The reprovisioning of health facilities in the Tenby area look to have moved a step closer this week with the Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust submitting a planning application to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

In October last year Welsh Finance Minister Edwina Hart earmarked some £8 million for new facilities in the Tenby and South Pembrokeshire area to replace those provided at Tenby's aging Cottage Hospital and the Outline Business Plan is currently with Jane Hutt, Secretary of State for Health at the National Assembly, awaiting a decision.

The Trust's application, received by the Park Authority on January 6, seeks outline permission for the erection of a health care facility building on the former gas holder site near Tenby's Butts Field car park.

Made through agent Mr. W. Spees, architect, of Hook Manor, Ambleston, the application indicates that the site, neighbouring Tenby Surgery in Gas Lane, could accommodate a building of some 1,013 square metres and provide some 39 car parking spaces.

However, the Trust does not own the land, listing themselves as 'prospective purchasers'.

The National Park is also in receipt of an application by Lattice Property Holdings Ltd., to build a two-storey block of 16 flats on the site, which was deferred at December's meeting of the authority's development control committee.

A spokesperson for the Trust said that the application was part of the reprovisioning of services in the area, but the decision on what those services would be was up to the Welsh Assembly after consideration of the business plan.

"We are aware that others may be interested in this location, but we need to be looking at sites ahead of the Assembly's decision," the spokesperson said.

"At the moment we are looking at the land as a possible site, but the exact nature of the development will not be known until the Assembly makes a decision."

Chairman of CATCH (the Campaign for Action on Tenby Cottage Hospital), Clr. Michael Williams, said that he was encouraged that the Trust was looking at sites in the town, but was concerned that there still appeared to be no commitment to providing in-patient beds at any new facility.

"It is encouraging that sites are being looked at, but this plan is in outline only and there are no details as to what the new facilities will include," he said.

"We still cannot get a response as to whether there are going to be in-patient beds at the new facility, which is our main concern."

Clr. Williams added that Plaid Cymru AM, Cynog Dafis, was arranging a meeting between campaigners and the new chief executive of the Trust, Bernie Rees, to stress the case for the area to retain the same level of facilities already provided by the Cottage Hospital.

"It is now seven years since the decision to close the Cottage Hospital was announced and, bearing in mind the effect that decision has had on the morale of staff there, I would hope for a decision on the matter as soon as possible," Clr. Williams added.

A National Park spokesman said that the Trust's application would be considered at a meeting of the development control committee on February 19, while the deferred flats application would be considered by Park planners next Wednesday.