The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority confirmed this week that plans are in the pipeline for a major development of several sites within Tenby, including the town's dilapidated Royal Gatehouse Hotel.
"The authority has not yet received completed applications, but if and when it does, they will be well publicised to give all interested parties the opportunity to comment," said a Park spokesperson. Applications are currently in the process of being submitted by South Wales-based developers Dovey Estates, who have come up with plans for a residential/retail scheme that encompasses the hotel, the adjoining properties, Milford House and Kent House, the cinema, the former petrol station and the Royal Lion Hotel, while a secondary scheme for the Delphi Apartments in South Parade has also been proposed.
Last week, local councillors labelled the state of the Royal Gatehouse in White Lion Street - a listed building - as an "embarrassment" to the town. "I've been approached by several local and visiting people with regard to the hotel to find out when and if anything is going to be done about its poor condition," Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown told her colleagues at a meeting of the town council. "I know that an urgent works notice was talked of by PCNPA last August, but not served because the hotel's owners/developers agreed to carry out the repairs required, but clearly haven't.
"I believe that PCNPA have asked a local conservation architect to prepare a schedule of works which will accompany an urgent works notice served, but why use the words 'urgent work notice' when there still haven't been any works done. Urgency in my understanding means quickly," continued Clr. Mrs. Brown.
She also stated that Pembrokeshire County Council had recently served a dangerous structures notice on the hotel's owners.
"Has the repair work started, no, not as far as we can see, apart from repair to yet another damaged pillar," remarked Clr. Mrs. Brown. Her colleague, Clr. Mrs. Julie Evans, agreed that it was time that something was done about the hotel's state of disrepair.
"I don't think that one person in the town will disagree with our views, some of the building's structure doesn't look safe, it's an accident waiting to happen, and who would be held liable then," she said, with Clr. Mrs. Maureen Ward calling the building "embarrassing".
Clr. Mrs. Brown felt it was time that legal action was taken against the hotel's owners.
"We face yet another season with these disgraceful buildings greeting our visitors on the main road into Tenby.
"If the owners love the town as much as we all do, it's about time they got on with repairing and restoring this once beautiful building to its original glory and stop fobbing us all off with excuses as to why this and that can't happen," she added.
Mayor, Clr. John Griffiths agreed that a letter should be written to the Royal Gatehouse's owner, Mr. Graham Fry, over the matter, along with further letters to the Welsh Assembly, Pembrokeshire County Council, PCNPA and CADW.
"The more people we write to, the more chance that something might be done quicker," said Clr. Griffiths.
When contacted by the Observer, a spokeswoman for Pembrokeshire County Council said the authority was in discussion with the developers regarding the condition of the hotel.
"The authority is also liaising with them with regard to the erection of a protective scaffold and associated works to the front elevation wall of Kent House and Milford House, which form part of the Royal Gatehouse Hotel," said the spokeswoman.
'MAJOR STEP FORWARD'
Meanwhile, Tenby county councillor Michael Williams, who is also vice-chairman of the Pembrokeshire National Park Authority, and who himself recently called for action to be taken to improve the condition of the disused hotel, said that the proposed plans were a major step forward. Anticipating that the matter would be determined in early summer, he stated: "It is unfortunate that many residents had assumed that when the drawings were first publicised, the planning application was submitted at the same time. This was not the case."
A Park spokesman added: "The authority sympathises with the concerns expressed by the town council about the condition of this important listed building.
"The authority continues to work with the county council and the prospective developers to secure the safety and retention of the building.
"An Urgent Works Notice has now been served in parallel with the enforcement of a Dangerous Structures Notice by the county council. The outcome should be that the bay windows/render are made safe and the roof to Milford House is made weather-tight.
"The authority recognises that it is critically important to come to a long-term solution as soon as possible and will continue to work to that end." A spokesman for Cadw, the historic environment team of the Welsh Assembly Government, said: "Local authorities have powers in respect of the condition of listed buildings in their area and can serve notices requiring repairs to be carried out.
Cadw does have some grant powers for repairs to buildings of outstanding architectural or historic interest or for works to improve the appearance of a conservation area and is always willing to consider an application for financial aid but, of course, there can be no guarantee that such an award will be made."
'SHORTSIGHTED'
This week, hotel owner, Mr. Graham Fry, hit back at the council's criticism, claiming: "It's sad that these people are so shortsighted, as this development will be the biggest Tenby has seen, but sadly these schemes don't happen overnight.
"It's taken three years for the developers to go down all the correct planning procedures and for all the required surveys to be carried out, and all the plans are in with Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, who have guided us all the way on this project and have been as good as gold. "Everything is in the hands of NP officers now and it's just a question of crossing the T's and dotting the I's. The plans have been exhibited at their offices for the past six weeks and as far as I am aware there have been no adverse comments.
"I think the question should also be raised as to why isn't anyone else in Tenby looking at certain problems the town has and has had for quite some time. People need to start looking at the bigger picture. Tenby is dying and no-one appears to be doing anything about it, with no significant money spent on any worthwhile attraction in the past 30 years.
"I apologise for the length of time the development has taken to get started, but I can assure the people of the town that it will prove beneficial for the whole of Tenby," he concluded.