Tenby Town Council have objected to a bid for a justices licence for a proposed new wine bar in the town.
Earlier this year, town councillors objected to a proposal by Mr. Frank Booth to convert his amusement centre on the town's Duke of York Walk, above the North Beach, into a wine bar, feeling it was out of keeping with the area.
However, last month, National Park planners approved the plan, resulting in Mr. Booth making application to the local magistrates for a licence to sell alcohol at the premises, which will be known as Goscar's Wine Bar.
A copy of the licensing application came before the town council on Tuesday night, with Deputy Mayor, Clr. Andrew Rees, expressing his surprise that the planning application had been approved by the National Park.
"I'm still not convinced a wine bar there would be the right place," he commented.
However, Clr. Mickey Folland pointed out that there was nothing the council could do to 'undo it' and there was nothing in planning law to prevent it.
Clr. Rees agreed that "with no planning prohibition the development would go ahead," but chairing the meeting in the absence of the Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown, who had declared an interest, he sought the views of fellow members concerning the licence.
Clr. Trevor Hallett wondered how far the property's curtilage extended, pointing out that when the amusement centre was open, children's rides were placed outside.
"Will drinking be allowed in this area?" he asked.
Clr. Folland felt that the licence boundaries would be "well defined" and, as the change of use had already been sanctioned, he saw no harm in granting a liquor licence, adding that it was only for sale 'on' the premises not 'on/off' like public houses.
Put to the vote, councillors decided to object to the application by three to two.
"I felt I could not support it, seeking status quo with the fact that we objected to the conversion plan in the first place," Clr. Rees commented.