A spruce-up of Tenby’s historical town walls is in the offing, after they were labelled ‘something of a mess’.

Concerns over the town walls needing some urgent TLC were raised recently by county councillor for Tenby’s North Ward, Cllr Michael Williams, who asked Pembrokeshire County Council to treat a section of the walls which run along the South Parade - as parts of them have become increasingly unkempt.

“Looking at the South Parade walls, I’m concerned at the growth of weeds currently on show, possibly causing damage to the stonework,” stated Cllr Williams.

“Is there any chance of possibly spraying the walls, or any other method of curtailing the growth? They do look something of a mess,” he continued in his correspondence to the Local Authority.

In response, the County Council’s head of infrastructure Darren Thomas said that he would see to it that work would be undertaken by PCC’s internal arborists, working in the Environment team, with the plan to treat them twice this year, once now and then again at the end of the season in September.

“Initially, it will be a spray treatment with the team returning once the chemicals have taken effect to cut everything back flush to the walls - as we’re not allowed to extract the weeds directly from the walls,” explained Mr Thomas.

Tenby town walls
Tenby's historic town walls (Obserevr pic)

The team started treating the walls last week and returned this week to finish off the work, but admitted they may have to go over some sections a second time where it is heavily infested.

Cllr Williams also asked for some painting and repair work to be carried out to many of the seats situated on the South Parade as they are in a ‘very poor condition’.

Plans to improve the condition of the town walls back in 2021, were put on the back burner it was revealed last year, due to a lack of funding from Pembrokeshire County Council.

As well as discussing carrying out work on the walls, Tenby Town Council had at the time also set out a list of aims and objectives to take forward in relation to enhancing the town’s Five Arches, which form part of the structure.

One of the aims the Town Council set itself was to look at ways to make the Five Arches a main gateway into the walled town.

However, when discussing the matter it was explained to Town Councillors that the county council’s budget seminar at the time showed that the Local Authority was in a ‘desperate state of affairs’ which would affect any progress the Town Council had hoped to make in improving parts of the town.