Plans to carry out improvements to the coach stop on Tenby's South Parade have been put on hold.

Correspondence from Pembrokeshire County Council's head of highways and construction, Darren Thomas, came before members of the town council at their meeting on Tuesday night, referring to the Tenby Transport Interchange Project which was nearing completion and had included the installation of a new passenger lift and other improvements to Tenby's multi-storey car park.

"As you are aware, the original scope of the project also included the potential for improvements to the existing bus stop at South Parade and the provision of a new coach pick up/drop-off point in the same vicinity," wrote Mr. Thomas.

Unfortunately, overall scheme costs have been higher than anticipated, which means the improvement plans are not able to be funded from the work programme for this financial year. However, a new funding bid has been submitted to the Welsh Government, and if successful, the works will be completed in 2015/16, explained Mr. Thomas.

"On a positive note, the new bus stop adjacent to the multi-storey car park, which is currently not being utilised by local bus services, will soon be re-designated as a coach stop," he continued.

"Consequently, signage will be erected to identify the bus bay as a coach drop-off/pick-up point with limited waiting time, to be enforced by our parking enforcement officers.

"I anticipate this new arrangement will come into place from May 1 onwards, once all the works to the multi-storey car park have been completed," he added.

Clr. Mrs. Kerri Durham told her colleagues that it would be nice to see the coach bay by the multi-storey used.

"It does make sense, and in theory, it's a fantastic idea, but good luck to them and the parking enforcement officers, as they can't seem to keep the taxi rank in that area clear, so how are they going to keep that spot clear for coaches!" she commented.

The town clerk told members that the issue of parking enforcement officers not enforcing the rules at the taxi rank had been brought to the county council's attention.

Commenting on the plans for improvements to the bus stop at South Parade, Clr. Will Rossiter felt that the county council continued to side-step the issue of improving crossing facilities in that area.

"It's dangerous for pedestrians crossing from the war memorial. Why can't they move the buses further back and put a level crossing there, because one is needed!" he said.