Irish Ferries services from Pembroke Dock are suspended

Hoteliers and restaurant owners say trade will be decimated by the suspension of crossings to Rosslare by Irish Ferries.

The company has suspended its twice daily service from Pembroke Dock because of an industrial dispute over leave with the Seamen's Union of Ireland and Siptu.

A spokesman for Irish Ferries stressed the withdrawal of services was only meant to be temporary but they did not know how long it would last.

Its going to hit us very badly. . . the heart of the town will be ripped out and I can't see anything replacing it Restaurant owner Avril Taylor

Andrew Linane was one of a handful of travellers to arrive at almost deserted terminal at Pembroke Dock on Tuesday to be told the crossing was cancelled.

"They explained there was industrial action and said they would accommodate us on the Stena sailing from Fishguard," he said.

"It just means an extra drive for me and I've already driven from Kent. I'm furious."

Businesses in the town also reacted angrily to the news.

Avril and Kevin Taylor warn businesses will close

Avril and Kevin Taylor who run the Cafe Royal bar and restaurant in Pembroke Dock called on politicians to intervene to solve the dispute.

Mrs Taylor said: "Its going to hit us very badly. If that goes the heart of the town will be ripped out and I can't see anything replacing it.

"At the moment, being a restaurant, our trade is very quiet because it is that time of the year. But even Friday and Saturday of last week we had half a dozen people in on each day waiting for the ferry.

"Summertime is our main time. If the ferry is taken off or if this industrial action continues our trade is going to be halved.

"On the first Saturday of last August we had 51 people here for a lunchtime and more than three-quarters were ferry trade."

Her husband added: "Pembroke Dock is a depressed area as it already is and with losing the ferry I can see businesses closing in their droves.

"This dispute really does need to be sorted out as soon as possible and I think the local council need to get involved, the Welsh assembly and Westminster."

Bill Evans says ferry traffic makes little difference to retailers

But some retailers say they get little business from ferry traffic and they see the main problem being a loss of jobs at the terminal if the dispute goes unresolved.

Bill Evans of Dorina's clothes shop and a member of the town's chamber of trade said: "I have sat down and thought about it and the biggest loss I can see is with the employment.