Controversial plans to re-open a nightclub in Penally have taken a step forward following the granting of a new licence for the premises. The club, on the former Chequers site, will be known as the Queen of Hearts.Pembrokeshire County Council’s licensing sub-committee met at County Hall in Haverfordwest last week to discuss the proposal put forward by Carmen Clemas, of Pentrecagal, near Newcastle Emlyn

The sub-committee first heard from Faith Wooldridge, Ms. Clemas’s business partner, who said in her opening remarks: “It’s what people from Tenby want.”

She also mentioned that she had received positive comments from people on social media about the application and that people had already been asking about jobs.

However, Dyfed-Powys Police licensing officer, Nigel Lewis, said he had concerns relating to the premises gaining a licence due to the location of the nightclub.

The nightclub will be located on the A4139 on the outskirts of Penally which is in a national speed limit zone, has no verge or path for people to walk on and the road is unlit, which he said “caused concern.”

Mr. Lewis also mentioned that there had been 10 road traffic collisions on that stretch of road since 1997.

Keith Jenkins, fire safety inspecting officer, said he did not oppose the application, but had concerns regarding the floor space as the premises was being reduced. He also wanted the estimated occupancy figure of 400 people to be reduced.

There was fierce opposition from members of the local community. This was mainly due to when the proposed site was last use as a night club which closed in 1997.

Melanie Priestly, the clerk of Penally Community Council, said: “The local police were involved in numerous alcohol related incidents. Tenby Police Station is not manned after 10 pm, therefore the Tenby area is covered by officers from surrounding stations such as Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven, increasing response times considerably.”

However, this was disputed by Mr. Lewis who, said: “the police are a 24-hour service.”

Also speaking against the application, Emma Thomas, manager of Crackwell Holiday Park, mentioned that the applicants hadn’t seen the play area where drugs or needles could end up and that the site was within a couple of feet of the entrance to the nightclub.

She added that they would be cutting the tree down next to site within the next 12 months and that the play area would be visible once the tree was cut.

There was also concern regarding noise for the residents and holidaymakers of the caravan park.

In an email sent to Clr. Tim Evans, chairman of the licensing-sub committee, Mrs. Thomas, said: “Having live music played at this premises will disrupt the peace, tranquillity and serenity here. The vibrations from the music can be felt here in the caravans as it travels through the ground and this constant thudding and banging will cause tremendous stress to all of us trying to sleep here.

It will threaten the safety of all the residents through drunken and drug influenced behaviour, possible vandalism, break-ins and theft, violence and rowdy behaviour.”

Clr. Jon Preston, the county council member for Penally, was also strongly opposed to the application.

He told the Observer: “The people of Penally suffered many years of vandalism, loud noise and unsocial behaviour by those going to and coming from the previous nightclub until its closure.”

However, despite the objections, the applicants were able to argue that they would have sufficient noise monitors as well as having taxis and coaches to convey people back to Tenby. By doing this, they said it would control the noise emitted from the club.

After breaking for over two hours to discuss the application, Clr. Tim Evans, Clr. Aaron Carey and Clr. John Cole announced that they had granted a licence subject to the following conditions: Alcohol must only be served on the premises: the club to close at 3 am and not 4 am as originally intended; recyclable containers only.