Sir,
Once again the walled town residents have been forced to leap into action to object to yet another planning application from the pubs. The Town Council, a consultee in the planning process, have approved a proposal for an 'exit' (otherwise known as an entrance) to Cresswell Street from the Bistro at the Tenby House Hotel.
This letter is no reflection on present management of the Tenby House, an orderly and well run pub, but the precedent opens the floodgates to others who may care little about the welfare of the residents.
Cresswell Street is a quiet, gently winding, exceptionally beautiful street of irregular terraced houses leading to the Iron Bar Sands. The Bistro is already built behind the facades of three cottages in the street and is presently entered via the Tenby House yard in Tudor Square.
An entrance or exit from Cresswell Street will destroy forever its unique ambience and will set a precedent for further erosion by pub culture.
The National Park has identified St. George Street as busy and commercial and the 'outlying streets' such as Cresswell Street as quiet. The contrast between them contributes to the special character of Tenby as a whole.
One elderly resident was sent an undated letter from the National Park inviting her to object by April 19 and to go to Haverfordwest to see the plans. I visited the Town Council's office in the De Valence in the hope of seeing the plans, only to find that it was closed until April 14.
It is the council's duty to object on behalf of the townspeople to what is clearly an irreversible contravention of the Conservation Statement that they have themselves adopted and the Draft Conservation Proposal that is in hand. Surely it is their responsibility to be vigilant in such matters, rather than it falling to the few residents to defend the remaining peaceful pockets of their walled town.
Murray John,
2 Olive Buildings,
St. Mary's Street,
Tenby.