A scheme to create a connection from Tenby’s Salterns car park to the South Beach for pedestrians and cyclists to use is in the pipeline.

Design and consultancy firm Arcadis has been commissioned by Pembrokeshire County Council to investigate the feasibility of providing a new active travel link between the Salterns and South Beach Car Park, with the aim of the scheme to provide a shared route for walkers and cyclists that allows the users of Salterns facility to directly access South Beach amenities and beyond that the wider town facilities.

The route has been previously identified by PCC during the development of Active Travel routes project across Tenby town, to promote safer travel for pedestrians and cyclists.

The Pembrokeshire Active Travel project focuses on 10 towns across the county - Fishguard/Goodwick, Haverfordwest, Johnston, Milford Haven, Narberth, Neyland, Pembroke, Pembroke Dock, Saundersfoot along with Tenby; with the main focus to improve areas where there is the greatest need for change and highest potential for more people to choose active travel.

The locations were chosen because they are where facilities are that people travel short distances to regularly - schools, leisure centres, employment sites, local shopping districts and transport interchanges.

Following an initial feasibility study to review all possible options to connect the South Beach to the car park, a preferred solution has now been identified, which has taken account of several factors, including - engineering and operational feasibility, environmental and financial considerations.

It has resulted in a choice of an underpass to be constructed through the railway embankment rather than a footbridge over the railway to provide this link.

The route then skirts along the side of the golf course using an existing path which forms part of the Sustrans National Cycle Network (Route No. 4) then runs along the public right of way to join the entrance of South Beach car park.

A design of this proposal is now being developed with a view to constructing it in the near future when funding is available.

In correspondence that came before members of Tenby town council this month, Arcadis’ principal engineer John Phillips said he would be happy to explain the scheme in more detail to councillors by arranging a future virtual meeting.

When discussing the proposals at last week’s remote meeting of the town council, councillors said that they were broadly in support of the Active Travel scheme to create a connection from The Salterns car park to the South Beach as it was something that had been suggested since the 1970s.

However, members also noted concerns that, based on the past experience of residents of Quarry Cottages, the potential increased use of the footpath, particularly at night, may have a detrimental affect on the amenity of the residents of The Burrows.