One of South Pembrokeshire's long-established organisations claims it is being discriminated against by Pembrokeshire County Council. Tenby and District Arts Club chairman, Harry Gardiner, fired a broadside at the local authority this week over what he claims is a lack of commitment to the arts in the area. "It is with some anger and much sadness that the Tenby and District Arts Club find that they have to leave Greenhill Community Centre, where they have met in the winter months on a Friday night for 33 years," Mr. Gardiner, told the Observer. "The chairman and secretary were invited to a meeting at the centre earlier in 2005 to be told that the club could no longer meet at Greenhill for the October 2005 - March 2006 season as the Youth Club wanted to extend their evenings to hold a disco in the coffee bar on a Friday night. One year's reprieve was granted as our programme for the year 2005-06 was already booked. "In spite of meetings and correspondence with the county council, the situation is still the same," explained Mr. Gardiner. "The club has to move as there is no sound-proofing between the coffee bar and the main hall, and if the coffee bar is in use by the Youth Club, there are currently no toilet facilities," he continued. The Arts Club has 121 members and an average attendance of 55 each Friday. Many non-members also attend for special performances. "Whilst the club fully understands the need to develop the facilities for young people, it hardly seems fair to discriminate against the older generation," said Mr. Gardiner. "The Arts Club committee spent the summer looking at alternative facilities in the Tenby district with the necessary facilities, parking, and large enough for special performances. "Canon David Jenkins, of St. Mary's Church in Tenby has offered the club the use of the excellent facilities at Church House, which has been gratefully accepted even without accessible parking, which is paramount for many of our less able members. "There seems to be little county council commitment to develop the arts in Tenby and district, even though they usually support two or three events a year," added Mr. Gardiner. "The county seem to lack commitment to make minor alterations that would keep the Greenhill Centre useable by the people who value its facilities and location. "This hardly seems a fair situation for the Arts Club to find itself in after nearly 60 years of providing a successful arts and community service to the people of Tenby and district, and unfortunately, being forced to leave such an ideal location when there is no equivalent alternative, will certainly affect the attendance at meetings. "Over the years, the Greenhill Centre has treated the Arts Club very well as it is the best hall in the area. The room fees are very reasonable, the hall facilities have been improved and we have had good support from Greenhill Centre staff. "The Youth Club worker and Community Centre manager have told us that the hall is too noisy to use when the Youth Club is meeting. "The county council building managers do not see improvements such as soundproofing as important because the county council do not have enough money. "The county don't seem to spend on building repairs or improvements, but wait until they have to demolish or sell them," concluded Mr. Gardiner. When the Observer contacted Pembrokeshire County Council, Ceri Jones, assistant press and public relations officer, said: "Following requests from the wider community, we are extending Youth Club provision at the Greenhill Community Centre. "The Tenby and District Arts Club has not been asked to leave the centre. It was suggested that because, as part of this extension, the Youth Club plans to hold a disco in the coffee bar on Friday nights, it might want to consider meeting on another night. "Alternatively, it was suggested they might consider another venue, such as Greenhill School. "It's certainly not true to say that we have no concern for the arts in Tenby. We have hosted the Tenby and District Arts Club for many years. As the adult learning service, our priority is to provide classes in education and learning and this includes many classes in the area on the arts. We also have a statutory duty to provide facilities for young people. "Work is due to start shortly on providing a disabled toilet at the centre as part of the council's programme for improving disabled access to its facilities."