Negotiations are underway to try and save Tenby's 'park and ride' scheme.

Local councillors have previously relayed their concerns to Pembrokeshire County Council over plans to scrap the scheme that runs during the resort's pedestrianisation period over the summer, stating that it would have a detrimental impact on the town.

The future of the park and ride scheme has been placed in doubt due to the withdrawal of funding from the County Council and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.

Speaking at Tuesday night's meeting of Tenby Town Council, town clerk Mr. Andrew Davies told members that the county council's cabinet had agreed last week to go ahead with an experimental traffic order to trial an extended pedestrianiastion scheme in Tenby this summer.

Following that decision, he and County Clr. Mike Evans, had met with the authority's street care manager, Marc Owen, senior traffic engineer, Ben Blake, and Sarah Middleton, planning officer for the National Park, to discuss the scheme and also the concerns surrounding the park and ride proposals.

"In relation to the park and ride scheme, costings were discussed at the meeting for a local provider to maintain the service, with the operator proposing a price increase on each journey and a subsidy on the scheme," Mr. Davies told councillors.

"Clr. Evans said he felt that the proposed price increase was unacceptable. From data research, it was noted that the North Beach route of the park and ride was very under-utilised last year, in comparison to The Green and Salterns.

"There were several options proposed, ranging from reducing the North Beach service from two buses to one, to axing it completely, or producing a double ticket scenario for those who park at the facility to also use on the park and ride," continued Mr. Davies, adding that he hoped that more information would be presented on the matter at the next meeting of the town council.

Clr. Mrs. Trisha Putwain felt it was a bit short-sighted of the county council to go ahead with a trial extension of the pedestrianisation scheme, when there was still doubt over the park and ride service, while her colleague. Clr. Mrs. Tish Rossiter commented that it was unfair to consider getting rid of the North Beach pick-up point as it catered for lots of locals and not just visitors.