Innovative proposals to inject life into Pembrokeshire’s ailing high streets were unveiled by Pembrokeshire’s newest political party on Wednesday (February 18).

Councillors Bob Kilmister and Peter Stock, of the Pembrokeshire Alliance, presented a £374,000, three pronged strategy to encourage shoppers and holiday makers back into our town centres.

Cllr Kilmister is convinced that significantly cheaper parking, free Wi Fi and two town centre managers could dramatically boost business in the county.

“The Pembrokeshire Alliance’s chief policy objective is to try and regenerate our town centres,” he said. “A great deal has been spoken about this by the present administration but the cold facts show that very little has been done.”

The councillor for Dinas Cross proposed the introduction of a nominal 10p charge in most county council car parks. He said that this would lead to a projected loss of £144,337, which would be covered by a 0.5% increase in council tax.

Part two of the strategy suggested that seven county towns, including Haverfordwest and Pembroke, should benefit from free broadband.

Wi-Fi installation costs would be paid for by taking £100,000 from the council’s £1,126,000 regeneration reserves, the cost of the yearly licence would come from the rise in council tax.

Two town centre managers would be recruited to work in the north and south of the county. These would be responsible for introducing click and collect schemes, running themed markets and co-ordinating training.

Cllr Kilmister is proposing the regeneration measures as amendments to the county council’s budget, this is the first time that an opposition group has attempted such a move.

He is also submitting six notices of motion to March’s full council meeting. These call for greater financial transparency and the cessation of unnecessary council expenditure; such as the £18,000 a year chauffer driven limousine and Haverfordwest airport, which last year ran at a £119,000 loss.

“I am hoping this will start public debate,” said Cllr Kilmister. “It is only when you start digging down you come up with interesting figures.”

He said that the three amendments alone would not be enough to entirely turn around the fortunes of town centres, but they were an affordable step in the right direction.

“We are trying to offer something that is going to kick start regeneration in our town centres,” he said. “We are confident that if the council accepts this, the whole of the Pembrokeshire economy would improve. We would have extra jobs and improved incomes.”