A Tenby boat operator has justified plans for permanent gates to be installed at the harbour’s pier, as without intervention there would be a very high chance of an ‘horrific’ incident occurring.

Pembrokeshire County Council is pushing forward with plans to introduce a fixed sliding gate on Tenby harbour pier, mainly to prevent unauthorised vehicle entry, but to still allow pedestrian access.

Local authorities took the decision over the busy holiday period in 2023 to start closing off a section of the pier at high tides with a temporary fenced gate, after serious safety concerns resurfaced with the volume of youngsters jumping in the water causing risk of injury from vessel movements within the harbour.

Concerns were raised that dangerous 'tombstoning' was occuring all to frequently at Tenby harbour (Pic: Gareth Davies Photography)

Anti-social behaviour concerns were also raised, with teenagers congregating down the pier, drinking and then diving in the sea; whilst the volume of ‘boy racers’ driving to the location for meet-ups during evenings was also highlighted as a concern.

With many taking to social media to call the Local Authority ‘killjoys’ for stopping the summer fun - Angus Dunlop who runs Tenby Boat Trips and is also chair of Tenby Harbour User's Association said that the move would hopefully reduce the chance of a serious accident occurring.

“The numbers coming to Tenby to jump off the pier had got out of hand in ‘23. Not only local kids or visitors, it had become a focal point for Pembrokeshire – well in excess of 100 people on a warm afternoon high tide,” he remarked.

Tenby pier gates
Local authorities took the decision over the busy holiday period in 2023 to start closing off a section of the pier at high tides with a temporary fenced gate, after serious safety concerns resurfaced with the volume of youngsters jumping in the water causing risk of injury from vessel movements within the harbour. (Observer pic)

“Tenby is a busy little working Harbour. In years gone by, jumpers had respect for working boats and jumping was tolerated by the boatmen – their kids were probably in amongst it.

“In recent years there had been a noticeable shift in attitude, and unfortunately on many occasions a total lack of respect for the harbourmaster’s authority and for working boats underway.

“A child sucked under a boat by a propeller will at best lose a limb, more likely their life – in horrific circumstances.

“The boats crew will have to live with that trauma for the rest of their lives, not to mention a family devastated,” he continued.

After numerous logged near misses and some seriously shaken up skippers, Angus said that he contacted Pembrokeshire County Council’s chief executive directly to red flag the situation.

PCC acted swiftly and installed a temporary gate, manned by the harbourmasters with co-operation of Tenby ‘boatmen’.

tenby pier sign
Pembrokeshire County Council is pushing forward with plans to introduce a fixed sliding gate on Tenby harbour pier, mainly to prevent unauthorised vehicle entry, but to still allow pedestrian access. (Observer pic)

The public were able to access the pier for the vast majority of the time; those with a permit could park, others could fish, walk their dog, and take in the view as normal.

Angus said that controlling access to the pier, did change an emerging negative culture literally overnight, and last year, when jumpers were asked to stay out of the designated area, on the whole they listened and numbers jumping were significantly reduced.

“No accidents or relevant near misses were reported in ’24 to my knowledge. Without intervention there was a very high chance of an incident,” he added.