A local councillor has trashed the county council's consultation process over plans to do away with Tenby's civic amenity site and develop a new facility out of town.

Speaking at Tuesday night's meeting of Tenby Town Council, after learning of a meeting that was due to take place last night (Thursday) to discuss plans for the new civic amenity site which is proposed to be situated on land off the A478 north of New Hedges, Clr. Lawrence Blackhall called Pembrokeshire County Council' s lack of notice 'disrespectful'.

"Consultation requires notice," he remaked. "Giving this council two days notice regarding this meeting isn't proper consultation; it's just disrespectful.

"The vast majority around this table and the vast majority of people in Tenby still believe the site should remain where it is," he told his fellow councillors.

A spokesperson for the county council said that the meeting in New Hedges was not a public meeting, but a 'fact-finding exercise' for the benefit of residents living near the proposed site, as well as local councillors.

"The council's current civic amenity site at The Salterns in Tenby is unsustainable for a number of reasons, including lack of space and access," explained the spokesperson.

"This has led to it becoming the council's poorest performing civic amenity site.

"Tenby Town Council has been aware for some time that a new site is required to provide the south-east of the county with a civic amenity and recycling centre, and the town council was invited to advise on any alternative location.

"A site has now been identified near New Hedges which would allow the council to develop a new state-of-the-art facility with the widest possible range of recycling options," they added.

The county council's cabinet approved plans to acquire the land for the development last week, subject to the council receiving planning permission from the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority for the new development.