Sir,

Exactly one year ago, Tenby Town Council put the De Valance up for sale or lease and invited interested parties to put forward their proposals and offers. Silent World Aquarium expressed an interest and, in the absence of any guide price or rent from the council, we took professional advice and offered to lease the building at an annual rent in excess of £30,000, the figure to be agreed with the council. The council's response was to call our offer an insult to the people of Tenby.

We asked several times for the chance to give the council a presentation of our proposals and eight months later they relented and on June 21 our team gave an in-depth presentation of our plans for a new-state-of-the-art National Aquarium of Wales, investing £2.5 million in the project and drawing 75,000 visitors pa.

Since then they have invited at least two other parties to make presentations. During this period, we have had absolutely no response from the council as regards our proposals or their intentions, save a quick phone call the other day to ask if we are still interested. Unfortunately for Tenby, we have lost interest in the De Valance and are looking to relocate elsewhere where we have been made to feel welcome.

Dealing with the town council has been a depressing revelation. We have watched Tenby going rapidly downhill over the last few years and, having met the council, I understand why and there will be no change until the people of Tenby wake up and get themselves a new council who have the interests of the town at heart. Tenby must realise it cannot rest on its laurels - it is dying.

Russ and Ginny,

Silent World Aquarium,

Tenby.