Talks held to take in two major planning applications for Tenby resulted in two different outcomes when local councillors held a specially arranged meeting on Tuesday night to discuss the proposals.

Members of Tenby Town Council considered two applications for the town at the meeting, with their recommendations to be passed on to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.

The first application, submitted by Mr. Peter Prosser, of the Tenby Island Project, was for a change of use of the fort at St. Catherine's Island, Castle Beach, to a visitor attraction.

The plans would incorporate various aspects including - gift, food and drink retail; change of use of generator house to ticket and retail facility; restore/replace railings; install two cranes; install two boat landings; construction of private/security residence; construct toilet and pumping facilities; install cliff path nature walk; install signage; install path lighting; install operational lighting; replace fort entrance bridge; install services; repair stairs and install new; install CCTV.

While welcoming plans to bring this building back into public use, members of the council recommended refusal of the application in its current form.

With 70 per cent of the floor space use unspecified, councillors felt there was insufficient detail on the type of visitor attraction proposed to allow them to fully assess the suitability of the site and the impact of such a proposal on this important listed building.

This lack of detail also left members unable to determine its compatibility with existing uses in the town and the economic benefits to the area.

Councillors noted that the proposed opening times of 8 am to midnight, with no detail on the type of attraction proposed, proved difficult for them to assess the impact on the amenity of the area in relation to noise and privacy.

While not part of the plans in front of them, the applicant had recently held discussions with the council, and had proposed a link bridge from Castle Hill to create all-tide access to the attraction for visitors.

Members felt that this was an integral part of the proposal and that the application should not therefore be taken in isolation, as a link bridge within this area would impact on the relationship of St. Catherine's Island with its surroundings and setting.

Councillors indicated that they would welcome the views of CADW and Heritage officers on the proposal as both St. Catherine's Island and Castle Hill were scheduled ancient monuments.

The second planning application that came before councillors was from Pembrokeshire County Council for a project to upgrade facilities in and around the town's multi-storey car park in Upper Park Road.

The proposals would include - the construction of a bespoke bus shelter/canopy to the north and east elevation of the existing toilet block/bus stop building; reconfiguration and alteration of elevations of the toilet block building to provide new customer services and Information Centre, public toilets and scooter store; construction of an external lift shaft and staircase to the front elevation of the existing multi-storey car park; creation of a wardens office/staff room beneath the existing ramp at ground floor within the multi-storey car park and the introduction of coloured pigmented glaze to front and side elevation of the existing multi-storey car park.

Councillors recommended approval of this project, stating that it would enhance facilities and improve accessibility.

It was also noted that residents of the area had made representation to the town council over the possibilities of a public safety crossing being included within the scheme.