Tenby car ban human rights query

Tenby's traffic ban has run on a trial basis for the past four years

A traffic ban restricting people's access by car to their homes at a west Wales resort might breach their human rights, says a planning inspector.

Clive Nield said something had to be done in Tenby, but Pembrokeshire Council should look at its plans again.

He said allowing one journey a day between 1100 - 1700 BST in July and August would harm many local people.

The council, which will comment after examining the report, has run the ban as an experiment for four years.

The authority wanted a permanent traffic order that would ban cars from the streets within the walled area of Tenby for six hours each day in the summer months.

Residents, businesses and harbour users would be allowed one single journey a day during these hours.

At a public inquiry in April, Mr Nield heard that there was support for the scheme from the Pembrokeshire National Park Authority, Tenby Chamber of Trade and a number of residents.

Those opposing the order include the Tenby Walled Town Residents' Association (TWTRA), harbour users, the taxi association, the Licensed Victuallers' Association and a number of businesses, including estate agents and hotels.

We think it is a very fair and comprehensive report Tenby Walled Town Residents' Association

Mr Nield said in his report: "With few exceptions, there is generally widespread support for the principle of restricting access.

"Tenby has experienced quite awful traffic problems."

'Personal freedom'

But he said the council had failed to look at other options and he said the order would place "significant restrictions on the personal freedom of residents."

He said in his view if the order was imposed this summer without testing alternatives it would be in breach of human rights laws.

There are 550 homes within the walled area and around 300 commercial premises.

Mr Nield has suggested that if the scheme is implemented this summer, residents, businesses and harbour users are given unfettered access to the town.

Pembrokeshire Council's cabinet will consider his report at a meeting on 26 June. It said it would wait until then before commenting.

But TWTRA welcomed the report, which it said vindicated its opposition to the order.

A spokesman said: "We think it is a very fair and comprehensive report."

He said the organisation now hoped to work with the council in developing an alternative proposal.