Posted on June 4, 2018
Temporary dredging around Tenby harbour area has been agreed following concerns raised by local councillors over the high level of sandbanks that have formed.
Local councillors also heard this week how a general spruce-up of the harbour area is also in the pipeline, with a ‘comprehensive clean-up’ planned and procedures put in place to ensure the safety of those using the facilities there.
Members of Tenby Town Council recently called for ‘urgent dredging’ action to be undertaken, following a high level of sand that had swept towards Goscar rock across the North Beach, leaving high sandbanks around a section of the harbour’s pier.
“Because the harbour has not been dredged in some time, at the current rate, we will have a new beach behind the harbour wall!” Clr. Laurence Blackhall stated at the time to his colleagues, explaining that two children had been very nearly cut off by the tide due to the way the sandbanks had formed.
He also stated that the issue was effecting the livelihoods of those working from the harbour, as boats were struggling to get back in and out.
Correspondence came before town councillors at their meeting on Tuesday night from county councillor for Tenby’s north ward, Clr. Michael Williams, who said that he had met with the town’s ‘liaison link officer’ Richard Brown, who is also Pembrokeshire County Council’s head of environment and civil contingencies, at the harbour to discuss the matter.
Clr. Williams explained that the failure to adequately dredge the harbour entrance for the past three years was raised, and that temporary dredging would be carried out shortly, with an estimate being sought from Cardiff Dredging for a ‘comprehensive dredging’ to be carried out next spring.
“This would entail the reduction of the entire current bank that has built up at the harbour entrance and at the at the rear of the pier,” said Clr. Williams.
All dinghies and trailers currently ‘apparently abandoned’ in particular in the sluice area of the harbour are also to have notices attached stating that if they are not claimed they will be removed, and priority given to the tables and seats on the area.
Plans are also in place to tidy up the area of the North Walk currently used for the storage of dinghies, with all rubbish such as old launching trailers to be removed,
Visitor moorings which are now possibly unsafe will be considered for potential improvement or removal.
“They have not been inspected or serviced and in my view are now unsafe,” continued Clr. Williams.
“If a visiting yacht broke adrift I believe Pembrokeshire County Council would be liable. The current situation relating to the number of outer moorings and keep boxes will be rationalised, to create a clear way to enabling visiting craft to safely enter the harbour.
“All commercial vessel owners will be written to, and a notice to mariners relating to see times too enter the harbour should be published.”
Clr. Williams went onto say that the possibility of closing the access via the slipway from the South Wharf to the Quay beach from Whitsun until the end of September will also be considered, with the access for launching vessels or other needs for access to be arranged with harbour staff.
“The reason for this is the increasing use by vehicles of this beach which is very widely used by families with young children,” he said.
A comprehensive clean-up will also be carried out including weed killing, and that each Autumn a programme of winter works be agreed to ensure that by Easter the harbour is fit for purpose.
The Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Sue Lane, and Clr. Blackhall both offered their thanks to Clr. Williams and Mr. Brown for looking into the situation stating that the news was ‘encouraging’ and that the harbour workers and users now needed to see the work completed.
Clr. Trevor Hallett said that he would like to see any sand removed from the harbour area shifted over to the South Beach which had suffered in recent times from erosion.
It was noted by the town clerk, Andrew Davies, that the poor condition of the seating along the North Walk pointed out by Clr. Mrs. Alex Rees at the previous meeting, where a lot of the wood had rotted away and rusty screws were sticking out, had already been tackled by a ‘community minded person.’
Source: Pembroke
