A meeting was called on Monday to discuss a licensing application for a nightclub in Tenby.

The Prince of Wales, located in Upper Frog Street, submitted a ‘variation of premises licence’ application to Pembrokeshire County Council’s licensing department to extend their hours of opening.

The variation refers to the hours which licensable activities occur and the hours the premises remains open to the public, including - a variation of recorded and live music, from 7 pm to 4 am; variation of sale by retail of alcohol from 7 pm to 4 am; variation of hours to the public between 10 am and 4.30 am.

Tenby Town Council hosted a special meeting, at their offices in the De Valence Pavilion, to discuss the application, with comments from residents and business owners welcomed.

The town council is a consultee on such applications, however it can only respond on the basis of representations made to them by local businesses and residents.

A letter-drop with the details of the meeting and application was also made over the weekend to properties in the locality.

At Tuesday night’s meeting of the town council, the Mayor, Clr. Laurence Blackhall, said that there had been a very strong response from residents against the application, with over 15 letters opposing the extended opening hours submitted.

Residents also outlined their concerns verbally over the existing operation of the premises, giving examples of anti-social behaviour and noise nuisance caused by customers of the nightclub.

They voiced their concerns that the problem would continue longer into the early hours of the morning to the detriment of their right to quiet enjoyment should the premises be allowed to open later into the night/morning.

Clr. Paul Rapi commented that it was clear from the representations received that the premises had been cause for complaint for a number of years, and he felt that the licensing authority had failed to react to historic complaints, and that people in the area had now had enough.

“This is a significant indication of the concerns which will all be passed on to Pembrokeshire County Council’s licensing department,” said Clr. Blackhall.

“The meeting did highlight the ongoing concern from locals and the police, and the wider concerns about the premises’ existing licence, which has caused considerable nuisance to residents and businesses in the area.

“It was recommended that the application be objected to unanimously,” added Clr. Blackhall.

As a result of the objections to the licence, the town clerk told councillors that the application would now go before the county council’s licensing sub-committee, with a meeting provisionally set for July 1 at County Hall, Haverfordwest.