One of Saunderfoot’s county councillors has stated that he is hopeful that a series of solutions will improve access for communities in and around his ward when the Long Course Weekend returns again this June.

Cllr Chris Williams said that following last year’s LCW, he received a ‘significant number of negative comments’ regarding the cycling event’s impact on Saundersfoot on a Saturday; and in response, invited residents and businesses to share their feedback.

“After extensive discussions and attempts to work on improving issues over the last 2 years, I concluded that progress with Pembrokeshire County Council and organisers Activity Wales Events had been insufficient; and as a last resort, I submitted a Notice of Motion to PCC, expressing my opposition to full road closures through Saundersfoot for the 2025 event,” he said.

Since, Cllr Williams has attended meetings with PCC’s Public Realm Manager and representatives from AWE to explore changes that would ‘improve access and mitigate the negative effects’.

“I am pleased to report that we have made significant progress,” he continued.

“It is important to stress that neither residents nor businesses in Saundersfoot oppose LCW or major events. The concerns raised are specifically about the full road closure from Summerhill to New Hedges, which isolates Saundersfoot for approximately eight hours on the last Saturday in June, significantly impacting local businesses and accessibility.”

Cllr Williams said that there will now be no ‘limited’ road closures; with full closures restricted to Wogan Terrace, Cambrian Terrace, and St. Brides Hill, reducing the previous impact on Saundersfoot.

Residents of the Glen, Rushy Lake, Swallow Tree Woods, and Broadfield Hill will have full access and be able to enter the village via Stammers Road and Brewery Terrace, using a managed traffic flow system that allows cyclists and vehicles to coexist safely.

Residents of Amroth and Wisemans Bridege will also have full access to enter and exit their village.

Cllr Williams continued: “The proposed changes to road access represent a significant improvement. With these measures in place, I hope to see a return to pre-full road closure visitor numbers, ensuring that LCW remains a successful event that benefits athletes, businesses, and the wider community.

“Additionally, I organised a well-attended meeting for residents and businesses that had raised their concerns, with PCC’s Public Realm Manager and AWE representatives.

“The discussion was constructive, with businesses strongly supporting Saundersfoot’s participation in LCW while calling for meaningful improvements.

“Key issues raised included the economic impact, with many businesses reporting a big decline in trade during LCW 2024.

“The perception that the village is closed led to reduced footfall, negatively affecting both businesses and the event atmosphere.

“AWE must provide clear and early communication to residents and businesses, including signage directing visitors to open village areas and car parks.

“The indiscriminate placement of barriers created the impression that the village was entirely shut off, discouraging visitors and isolating businesses. Removing unnecessary barriers should be a priority.”

Cllr Williams added that there will be additional meetings over the coming weeks, ahead of LCW which will run from June 27-29.