The developers behind a project to turn Tenby's St. Catherine's Island and fort into a visitor attraction have fired a broadside at the town council this week after they recommended refusal of the latest set of plans for the historic landmark.

The application from Mr. Peter Prosser, of the Tenby Island Project, was given the thumbs down by town councillors after they felt the plans were not detailed enough to fully assess the impact of the development on Castle Beach and the surrounding area, and that the proposals lacked clarity about the eventual end use for the island.

The application will ultimately be decided by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority's development management committee, who are due to discuss the plans next month.

The scheme was initially turned down by members of the Park's committee back in the summer of 2013, and then went before an appeal hearing a year ago, with planning inspector Robert Gardner (whose recommendations were passed on to Welsh Government Ministers) ultimately turning down the appeal on a technical ecology issue, which the developers say has now been resolved.

"Just as the St. Catherine's fort is re-arming for the fight with the National Park over a resubmitted planning application, the first broadside comes from a small-minded town council," said project developer Peter Prosser this week. "As statutory consultees, their view is sought, but how many other projects are damaged by a lack of reasonable thought and action?

"Despite the town council's most recent public complaint in the press of 'Tenby's tourism not being advertised enough' - they have chosen to stop the most significant tourist project that has happened for decades," he remarked, stating that the council has neglected to consider local impact on employment or tourism; and has failed to canvas the local community or engage with the project organisers at a meaningful level.

"They ignore last year's planning appeal report and have not taken any opportunity to complete a site visit or even chosen to invite the project organisers to meet with them.

"Instead, Tenby Town Council appear to have based their refusal of the project on a cocktail of last minute concerns, providing a sympathetic ear to unsubstantiated reports from a minority," continued Mr. Prosser.

"Our collective view is that the town council have seized the opportunity to refuse the application based on cherry-picking concerns that could easily have been resolved prior to the meeting had there been any will, aptitude or mind to do so. 

"The continued veil of obstructive behaviour by the authorities to scupper the project by convenient point scoring is at the expense of the visitors, the proposal and the public purse," he said.

The applicants have also launched a petition to gain support for the project, urging people to write to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, with so far over 500 signing the petition which can be accessed through the 'Tenby Island - St. Catherines' Facebook page.

"The Tenby Island Project is not dismayed by the blowings of the small-minded council and fortunately thoughtful people of Tenby have jumped in to let their thoughts be known, with letters written directly to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and we are very grateful for this generous support," continued Mr. Prosser.

"It is testament to how much this place is loved and how the current plans have support from far and near that the National Park planning fight has now gone global in response to the town council's attack on the project.

"We know that many people, local and far away support the project with great passion and ask that you don't let the town council speak for you, but instead make your views known directly during this planning consultation period," he added.