Local councillors have welcomed plans to convert one of Tenby's best-known landmarks into residential accommodation.

Members of Tenby Town Council gave their thumbs up on Tuesday night to an application submitted by the RNLI and Tim O'Donovan, of Llandaff, Cardiff, to turn the resort's old lifeboat station into a four-bedroom, three-bathroom property.

Speaking on the application, which has been submitted to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, Clr. Mike Thorne welcomed the plans, saying that it was encouraging to see that it was a joint venture by the developer and the RNLI.

"It appears to be a good scheme that involves minimal alterations to the building itself," said Clr. Thorne.

"I think we should welcome the application, with the only reservation being that the balcony proposed for the living area, seems to be slightly above the slipway, which could be an intrusive feature, so it may be better if we recommend that it is situated at a lower level," he continued.

Clr. Mrs. Tish Rossiter felt that they needed to think very carefully about the application as it could affect the visual landscape of the town's harbour area for a long time to come, while Clr. Trevor Hallett had some concerns over how the premises' sewerage system would work.

Tenby Civic Society had also written to the town council after viewing the application, stating that some potential disruption and congestion could be caused to Castle Square, along with St. Julians Terrace and Street.

Argent Architects, who are working on the development, stressed, however, that the project was not comparable in scale to the recent construction of the new lifeboat station and there would be no need for materials to be delivered by sea.

They envisaged no major demolition work to the station, with disposal of material to be replaced (i.e. rotten external walkway decking timber) manhandled to a skip in Castle Square or lowered to a four-wheel dumper on the beach at low tide.

Steel floor beams would be delivered via the beach and hoisted up into the building from the old winch position at the south end of the boathouse or by hoist from off the side of the slipway structure.

The developers estimated that the conversion should be complete by July of next year, with work scheduled to start in October if the plans were approved by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority's development management committee.

Tenby town councillors passed no objections to the application, subject to the size and elevation of the balcony.

"It is nice to see someone take an interest in the historic building and finally do something with it," commented Clr. Hallett.