TRADERS SAY CARD PAYMENTS, TAXIS AND VISITOR SAFETY ARE BEING HIT BY ‘DEAD ZONE’ COVERAGE

TENBY’S long-running mobile phone signal crisis has become a national story, with businesses and visitors warning that poor coverage is now affecting card payments, taxi bookings and the town’s reputation as a major tourist destination.

The seaside town, one of Wales’ best-known holiday hotspots, has been named as having the worst mobile network quality in the UK, with consumer group Which? reporting that users in the SA70 postcode experience a good connection only 54.3 per cent of the time.

The problem has been made worse by the decommissioning of a local phone mast earlier this year, affecting O2, Vodafone and Three customers.

The Herald has repeatedly reported concerns from residents, traders and visitors, including more than 500 complaints gathered through a public appeal by Around Tenby and Tenby Chamber of Trade & Tourism.

Businesses say the issue is no longer just an inconvenience, but a serious trading problem.

Taxi drivers have reported missing bookings because messages cannot be answered in the town centre, while shops and hospitality venues say customers are sometimes unable to pay by card.

One Tenby taxi driver told BBC Wales that the town had become a signal “dead zone”, adding that he had begun warning customers that some journeys may have to be cash-only because card machines cannot connect reliably.

Retailers have also warned that tourists who cannot make a payment often say they will “come back later” — but never do.

The issue is particularly acute as Tenby prepares for the summer season, when tens of thousands of visitors can be in and around the town on busy days.

Pembrokeshire’s visitor economy is worth hundreds of millions of pounds a year, and Tenby remains one of the county’s flagship destinations.

But visitors interviewed by the BBC said they had struggled to call taxis, check the weather or keep in touch with work while staying in the town.

Some said the lack of signal would make them think twice about returning.

Mobile operators have apologised and said work is ongoing to find a solution.

O2 said the issue was linked to a decommissioned local mast and that Vodafone, its infrastructure partner, was working to locate and install a replacement. Vodafone and Three said they were exploring temporary options while working on a longer-term fix.

EE, which was not involved in the removal of the mast, said it was looking at ways to improve connectivity in Tenby and the wider area, including upgrades at an existing mast site in Penally.

Local MP Henry Tufnell has already written to telecoms operators demanding answers, after being told that the removal of the Slippery Back Lane mast had left parts of Tenby with very limited mobile signal.

Campaigners say the pressure is now on for a temporary fix before the height of the tourism season, rather than waiting months or years for a permanent replacement.

The Herald understands traders are continuing to gather evidence from residents, visitors and businesses to present to mobile networks.

For many in Tenby, the message is simple: a town that helps sell Wales to the world should not be left struggling to make a phone call.

Holiday cottage agency launches latest round of funding for charities and local organisations across the county

COASTAL Cottages of Pembrokeshire has announced it will invest £50,000 in charities and community projects across the county through its Coastal Community Fund.

The Haverfordwest-based holiday cottage agency, established in 1982, manages around 400 properties and employs 25 staff from across Pembrokeshire.

Guests who book through the family-run agency are given the option of donating £3 per booking to the fund, which is then used to support local charities and community initiatives.

Organisations across Pembrokeshire are now being invited to apply for funding, which is available in two tiers. Small grants of up to £500 and major grants of up to £5,000 will be awarded.

Funding will be made available twice a year, with the deadline for the first round of applications set for Thursday, April 30.

Projects must show a clear and positive impact on local communities. Examples given by the company include improvements to village halls, heritage and cultural schemes, accessibility upgrades and conservation work.

Matthew Evans, Chief Executive of Coastal Cottages of Pembrokeshire, said: “We’ve always believed that tourism should give something back to the place it depends on and our guests have been so generous with their donations.

“Without our owners and our guests choosing our local agency, this fund wouldn’t exist, so we want to send a heartfelt thank you to them for supporting our community and loving Pembrokeshire as much as we do.”

Applications for the Coastal Community Fund are now open.

Pembrokeshire-based charities and community organisations can apply online through the Coastal Cottages website, where full guidance notes are also available. Further information is also available by email at [email protected] or by telephone on 01437 765765.

Conservatives say tax plans and 182-day rule are piling pressure on west Wales sector

TOURISM businesses across Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion are facing a “perfect storm” of pressures at the very start of the holiday season, according to two senior Welsh Conservative figures.

With the Easter holidays traditionally marking the start of the main tourism period, firms across west Wales would normally be preparing to welcome visitors and generate crucial income after the winter months.

But Paul Davies MS and Senedd candidate Sam Kurtz say confidence in the sector is being undermined by rising costs, new regulations and what they describe as damaging policy decisions.

Tourism remains one of the main economic drivers in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, supporting thousands of jobs and a wide range of small and medium-sized businesses.

Mr Davies said: “Easter is the starting point for the tourism season in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion. It’s when businesses begin to recover after winter and build momentum for the year ahead. But instead of optimism, many are facing a perfect storm created by rising costs and damaging policy decisions that we voted against.”

Mr Kurtz added: “Tourism is the backbone of the economy in Penfro and across west Wales. But policies like the proposed tourism tax and changes such as the 182-day rule are adding uncertainty and pressure at exactly the wrong time.”

Concerns raised by businesses include the impact of the 182-day rule, which requires many self-catering operators to meet higher occupancy thresholds or face increased tax bills.

There is also concern about the proposed visitor levy, which critics say could deter tourists and make Wales less competitive than other parts of the UK.

Operators are also dealing with rising day-to-day costs, including business rates, energy bills, staffing pressures and increased compliance demands.

Mr Davies said: “These policies might be well-intentioned, but the cumulative effect is damaging. At the very point the season begins, businesses are being hit with uncertainty and additional costs that threaten their viability.”

Setting out the Welsh Conservatives’ position, he said the party would scrap plans for a tourism tax, work with councils to expand free town centre parking, and reduce the 182-day threshold to 105 days.

He said: “Our focus would be on making west Wales a competitive, welcoming destination for visitors while supporting local jobs and communities.”

Mr Kurtz said: “The difference is clear. Welsh Conservatives back small businesses and understand the importance of tourism to rural economies. We want to reduce burdens, restore confidence, and ensure Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion remain top destinations for visitors from across the UK and beyond.”

He added that the issue was about more than tourism operators alone.

“This is about jobs, communities, and the future of tourism in west Wales,” he said. “Easter should bring opportunity and confidence, not additional concern about whether businesses can survive the year ahead.”

Industry figures are now calling for a more balanced approach that supports sustainable tourism while recognising the sector’s importance to rural communities.