PEMBROKESHIRE’S e-bikes scheme trial, which got off to a rocky start with initial limited availability and vandalism, could soon be expanded to other areas of the county through the national park, councillors heard.

Introduced in April, the bikes – positioned in Fishguard and Goodwick, Haverfordwest and Tenby – proved problematic within weeks when fears of vandalism by revellers and mischief-makers forced the authority to cut down their weekend night-time availability hours.

In June, the council reported that the E-bikes were currently unavailable to hire in Haverfordwest ‘due to required repairs’.

The E-bikes are maintained by the scheme provider, Zipp Mobility, with the trial made possible by funding from South West Wales Metro.

In a submitted question heard at the October 17 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, Councillor Rhys Jordan asked: “Can the Cabinet Member for Resident Services provide usage figures and an update on the progress of the 12-month e-bike scheme that was launched in April of this year?”

Cabinet Member for Resident Services Cllr Rhys Sinnett said the initial 30-bike scheme had been run out of Tenby, Fishguard and Goodwick, and Haverfordwest and continued to grow despite issues around vandalism in Haverfordwest.

“We expect to add a small number of bikes back around Haverfordwest in the next few weeks; Haverfordwest proved to be a popular location for this scheme and usage proved high, the number of trips increased last month and usage is constant,” Cllr Sinnett said.

He told members that Pembrokeshire Coast National Park had expressed an interest in expanding the scheme into a number of its sites, adding to its own provision in St Davids.

“The national park would like Pembrokeshire County Council to manage the scheme in Broadhaven, Angle, Manorbier, Saundersfoot, St Dogmaels and Newport,” said Cllr Sinnett, adding it was anticipated the original bikes would be relocated to these areas.

He told councillors as many as 50 additional bikes, with extra security features, were expected soon, along with ‘solar tree’ charging facilities, at no additional cost.

He said the scheme had proved to be popular, not only in Pembrokeshire, but with other Welsh local authorities, with Pembrokeshire in discussions with neighbouring Carmarthenshire about that council potentially introducing a similar scheme.

Cllr Jordan, in a supplementary question, asked for further details on the scheme’s funding.

Cllr Sinnett said the scheme was entirely funded by the South West Wales Metro scheme, adding: “At no time have we had any match-funding request,” adding: “The scheme is 100 per cent Welsh Government funded.”

He finished: “Not only does this scheme add to the tourism offer, it also adds modal shift. We should welcome this scheme, not be negative about it.”

A ‘FULL COMMITMENT’ to improve warning systems on a flood-prone road on the approach to Tenby was given after Pembrokeshire councillors heard the current system appears to not like working when its wet.

Back in January, Storm Henk led to flooding across the region – including in and around Tenby, Gumfreston, Heywood Lane and the Clicketts. while a red alert was issued for the River Ritec, with water being described as “Jeep deep”.

In a submitted question heard at the October 17 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, Councillor Rhys Jordan asked: “As we approach the autumn and winter months, which will likely bring further disruptions for residents and visitors entering and exiting Tenby via Gumfreston, can the Cabinet Member for Resident Services update us on the progress made toward improving the flood warning system in the Gumfreston area?”

Responding, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services Cllr Rhys Sinnett said, following discussions with Natural Resources Wales, it was looking at consultants producing a long list of options for a potential flood risk management scheme for the River Ritec catchment area, with outfalls to the sea acting as “throttle points” to the river.

“NRW already has a flood warning system in place for the river, I would urge all users of the road and all local residents to sign up to receive flood alerts,” Cllr Sinnett said, adding an automated warning sign system was already in place, with plans for an additional water depth gauge to be installed.

In a supplementary question, Cllr Jordan asked: “Can you give me an assurance that the flood warning system will actually work this autumn and winter?

“Only yesterday [October 16] the road was flooded and no warning signs were on; it seems to work when the road is not flooded, but they don’t like operating when its wet.”

He described it as “probably the most closed road in the county,” but one where there was the least communication on.

Cllr Sinnett, who later deferred to Director of Transport and the Environment Darren Thomas, said: “If there are problems with the system, we need to sort that out; members of the public need that reassurance that things are working the best they can.”

Mr Thomas told councillors there had been difficulty with the supplier of the signs, despite regular discussions, with the council considering a change of supplier.

“It’s not something we’ve left lying; you have a full commitment that officers are trying to get this fixed,” he told members.

HUGH CUTS to the performing arts could have a devastating impact, stifle the creative sector and endanger Wales’ cultural identity, a committee heard.

Sharon Stone, co-director of Chapter Arts Centre, described pressures on the sector as incredibly difficult following the pandemic, with inflation soaring and a cost-of-living crisis.

She pointed to a 45% increase in utility costs over the past two years coupled with a “huge” 43% cut in the latest round of Arts Council of Wales funding.

Ms Stone, who is also director of finance at the Cardiff arts centre, told the Senedd’s culture committee: “We’ve gone from close to £680,000 a year to £390,000 a year.”

She explained that the Arts Council provides around 18% of Chapter’s income, adding: “We can’t pass that onto our audiences … we’ll price ourselves out of the market.”

Her co-director Hannah Firth told the committee some costs, such as for hiring spaces, have had to be passed on, putting pressure on the wider sector.

Louise Miles-Payne, director of Creu Cymru, which champions the performing arts, echoed concerns about the Arts Council’s latest investment review.

Naomi Chiffi, director of collaboration at National Theatre Wales (NTW), said the charity is in a “unique and inevitable” position of having lost all its Arts Council funding in the last review.

“Even before that things were difficult and … we can’t expect audiences to pick up the tab,” she added, cautioning that it is becoming unsustainable for the sector.

Asked about the potential impact of any further Arts Council cuts, Ms Firth said it could have devastating effects and stifle the creative sector, particularly for early career artists.

Ms Miles-Payne warned the theatre sector is already close to closures, with threats to Blackwood Miners’ Institute and Merthyr Tydfil’s Redhouse centre having shut.

Ms Chiffi said: “It’s really important to remember that arts isn’t a luxury, it’s not a means of entertainment – it can’t just become the privilege of the few, it’s a right for all of us….

“It’s such a vital part of the nation’s cultural identity.”

Ms Chiffi said the national theatre company has been through “great stress”, with voluntary redundancies leaving four core members of staff and five project-funded staff.

She welcomed ring-fenced transition funding from the Arts Council and a Cardiff council grant that has helped NTW continue work with schools and young people.

She told the meeting on October 17 that the wider artistic programming of NTW has sadly had to be put on hold due to the Arts Council cuts.

Labour’s Alun Davies asked to what extent the sector is in financial crisis due to austerity as opposed to failing to adapt well to changes in society.

Recognising social change, Ms Firth suggested it is a combination of the two.

“But it’s a hard financial fact that people can’t afford to go out in the way that they used to,” she said, adding that habits changed during the pandemic.

Ms Miles-Payne said the sector has faced a steady decline in funding for the past decade.

Mr Davies, a former minister, replied that it is fair to say the Welsh Government has not funded culture in the same way as Scotland or the Republic of Ireland.

Asked whether the Welsh Government cares about arts and culture – with suggestions the sector is an “easy target” for cuts – Ms Miles-Payne said: “It doesn’t really appear so.”

She told committee members that culture spending is 0.15% of the Welsh budget, compared with a European average of 1.5%.