Councillors in Tenby are to ask Pembrokeshire County Council as to what the Local Authority’s plans are for the Avenue Centre building in Greenhill Avenue going forward.

The day-centre recently closed as part of PCC’s centralisation of day-care services, after senior Pembrokeshire councillors backed plans to close two of the county’s centres for older adults and those with learning disabilities.

Back at the start of the year, members of PCC’s Cabinet backed a recommendation to approve the relocation of Day Services for older adults and adults with a learning disability provided from Portfield SAC in Haverfordwest, and Tenby’s Avenue SAC, to alternative venues from April 1.

The alternative venues will be Meadow Park Day Centre in Prendergast, Haverfordwest and Lee Davies Day Centre in Narberth, both of which have been used as alternative sites since August 2023, with the Avenue also served by The Anchorage SAC/South Quay.

A report for members said the alternative of keeping the existing services at Tenby’s Avenue Centre and Portfield - together with investment and maintenance of the buildings, would have a minimum cost of £1,257,000; £640,419.02 and £616,581.34 respectively, with numbers of service users attending day centres rather than other facilities dropping since the Covid pandemic.

At the time of the decision, county councillor for Tenby’s North ward, Cllr Michael Williams said that the Avenue Centre had provided a ‘vital service’ to disadvantaged families over the years.

He remarked: “I understand the enormous financial pressure PCC finds itself in, but it appears that the most vulnerable in society are going to once again having to bear the brunt of these cutbacks.”

Speaking at this month’s meeting of Tenby Town Council, the Mayor Cllr Dai Morgan, commented that he had been approached by several well-established community-based organisations who would be interested in using the building if it was available.

He felt there was an opportunity to create something that would be of real benefit to the well-being of the people of the town.

Cllr. Laurence Blackhall recalled that some years ago there had been a proposal put forward by Tenby Civic Society to create a community facility utilising the whole site, including the library. He told his fellow councillors that the Avenue Centre building could be the start of bringing that idea forward.

Members agreed to contact PCC to ask them for a meeting to discuss their plans for the day-centre building.