It seems that an 11th hour call to throw out plans for the proposed demolition of Tenby Infants School has fallen on deaf ears.

The matter was raised at a meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council's economy overview committee when the reorganisation of library services was being discussed.

Tenby member Clr. Michael Williams suggested that the Infants School - due to be demolished as part of the new Junior School/Welsh Unit project in Heywood Lane - should be spared and looked at again as a library facility for the town.

This followed concerns raised about the existing facility and the fact that the council had recently carried out a consultation on the future of library services in the Tenby area which, it would appear, "have come to nothing."

"We are now in the situation where the county council intend demolishing the infants school when the new school is in place, at an estimated cost of £40 000, and we all know what happens to estimates," said Clr. Williams.

"It is difficult to separate one's head from one's heart on this matter, when for many years we have witnessed the work of a devoted headteacher, who has been supported by totally committed governors, who after securing considerable investment over the years now see that their school is to be demolished.

"Putting aside one's emotions, it does seem to be nothing short of lunacy to even consider the demolition of this building when it could easily be adapted to become a first class modern library.

"I would ask that officers investigate the possibility of converting this building into a much-needed modern library facility. It might not be considered by some to be very central. But with the huge numbers of second homes that now blight the central core of Tenby, it could very well be considered to be in the centre of an area which is occupied 12 months a year. It would also have adequate car parking.

"The reply inevitably will be that it was part of a planning condition, in that the loss of a green area should be replaced. But remember planning advice is intended as just that, advice. It is vitally important that this building is saved and utilised in a way that will benefit the entire community. The capital and revenue investment over recent years must not be wasted.

"We now have a last chance to develop this facility with draconian cuts just around the corner, but if capital was available less than 12 months ago to develop a new library at the leisure centre, where is this capital now? My belief is that it could still be put to use.

"I would ask that officers revisit the question as a matter of urgency, and report back to committee."

This motion was accepted by the committee.

However, Clr. Williams has since received a response from Mr. Barry Cooke, head of property at the county council, in which he reiterates the fact that the the demolition of the infants school is a condition of the planning consent granted by the PCNPA planning committee - "and you will be aware of the details of this application and the conditions imposed as you are a member of the committee," he added.

"The 21C Schools Programme Board is primarily concerned with the delivery of this large and enormously important programme of work for the council," continued Mr. Cooke. "Clearly, it will consider additional benefits which may be presented by each school project, especially around community benefit connected with the individual developments.

"However, due to the requirements to obtain formal Welsh Government approval to each scheme in terms of design, budget and timescales, the Programme Board cannot risk the non-delivery of a particular project where a planning consent has been approved for that school scheme and the conditions of the consent enable the scheme to proceed."

Clr. Williams said it was his intention to agenda the matter for the next full council in December so that members could discuss the options.