AN ABERAERON town councillor has hit out at work on the safe zone, saying it has left the town an unsightly mess.

Cllr Phill Davies said that work being carried out to reinstall the safe zones are driving away appalled and frustrated visitors, and leaving residents angry.

The works being undertaken ahead of the summer season have started too late, he added, because visitors are already arriving.

And the changes have left Aberaeron town centre with fewer parking spaces for tourists, leaving business owners “tearing their hair out”, Cllr Davies said.

The safe zones are being reintroduced by Ceredigion council’s Gold Command as visitor restrictions ease, but Cllr Davies told the Cambrian News he had been asked by residents “several times a day” if “Ceredigion Cabinet and Gold Command trying to ruin Aberaeron”.

“They may not be trying but they are most certainly succeeding,” Cllr Davies said.

“They have started more work in the tourism centre, closing off a large part of the main town centre car park in Pwllcam as well as dozens of other parking areas. All this to actually end up with fewer spaces than we had originally, in a town where space is at a premium.

“The last few days have seen cars circling the one-way system in a vain attempt to park, and many give up and leave. This is frustrating, and costs time and money.”

Cllr Davies warned that the changes will see people “vote with their feet”.

“They are going elsewhere - to the cost of local traders,” he said.

“To say that there is anger locally is a huge understatement, traders and residents are tearing their hair out. Once people go elsewhere, they tend not to come back.”

Cllr Davies called the town an “unsightly mess”, and said “residents and regular visitors are appalled.”

“Those who have visited for the first time having seen pictures of our once lovely town are dismayed,” he said.

“There is no consultation, our lives are turned upside down and huge amounts of our money are being wasted on work that is done, undone, redone and then done again. It has to stop and our town has to be reinstated.”

Ceredigion council said that while there will inevitably be some disruption for a couple of weeks, the end results will enhance the town.

A spokesperson for the council said: “The Safe Zones have been introduced to create safe and welcoming towns for people to enjoy whilst adhering to the social distancing requirements and allow businesses to trade whilst complying with the current restrictions in place.

“In Aberaeron, improvements are being made to the Pwll Cam area where the raised sections are being lowered down to the level of the existing footpath, which will create a wider and more accessible space for people to circulate around the harbour whilst continuing to allow parking.

“New and additional seating space will be provided which, once completed, will be better for those visiting.”