A Fishguard native and town centre regeneration expert is urging the town's residents to respond to the current planning consultation on the future of the town centre.

The Chimney's Link Masterplan involves the redevelopment of 1.5 hectares of land within Fishguard Town Centre and includes the development of a new one way system which would provide access through the development site.

The scheme involves the land to the east of Lota Park and incorporates three new retail units a 25 bedroom hotel and ten small apartments. There would also be 142 car parking spaces, a bus station and a one-way link road to ease congestion in the town.

"Pembrokeshire County Council's above plans represent a genuine once in a lifetime opportunity for Fishguard Town Centre," said George Grace, founder of TownCentred.com.

"Unfortunately the current proposals offer a small step forward rather than the giant leap the town greatly needs."

Mr Grace, whose mother is a former mayor of Fishguard, said that the current design puts too much emphasis on cars and buses at the expense of the pedestrian.

He says that in the town centre should have wide, high-quality pavement with space for pavement cafes rather than wide roads and roundabouts.

He suggests that Fishguard Square should be converted into a real "heart for the community" by changing the road layout and creating a market square that would stimulate pavement café culture.

Mr Grace says that many more residential units should be incorporated into the scheme; creating affordable housing and demand for local shops.

He adds that any new buildings should reflect Fishguard's Victorian and Georgian heritage which could transform the town into a "wonderful thriving West Walean town centre".

"The above ideas will do this and create a much greater chance for the town to move forward in terms of tourism, economy, housing and sustainability," he said.

"This is the chance we have been waiting for to lose the ghost town and go back to the future and recreate the wonderful busy buzzy place of the past."

He urged Fishguard residents to respond to the consultation on www.atkinsglobal.com/fishguard."