Tenby's new lifeboat station moved a step closer this week after it was revealed that the RNLI and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority had finally agreed on a design for the £3 million building.

The RNLI proposals to build a new lifeboat station on the town's Castle Hill to house one of its new generation of FSB2 sea-going lifeboats have been in the melting pot for some time, but National Park planning officer, Mr. John Griffiths, told members of the authority's development control committee on Wednesday that officers were close to being able to green light the project.

Mr. Griffiths told members that while the Park had accepted the principle of the application, its location, and scale of the building for the inclusion of all the facilities requested by the RNLI, there had been question marks about the design, given its prominent location within the resort.

"The original drawing was for a very big, curved building and we were a little frightened about it," smiled Mr. Griffiths. "There were some concerns about its impact, particularly the proposed finishes."

The application had been deferred for several months while the principle of the development had been agreed and Mr. Griffiths felt that this had proved beneficial in that the RNLI and the National Park had been able to look at the design "with fresh eyes."

"Once the principle had been agreed, it was all about getting the proportions right," he said.

Mr. Griffiths explained that Park officers and the RNLI had been working together "over many hours" to amend the look of the building, and the RNLI architects had sent a new design based on a similar drawing devised by the National Park.

"We feel the building is now more in proportion, and will sit much better on Castle Hill," said Mr. Griffiths.

"I think this is as good now as we can get it, and represents quite a good solution."

However, Mr. Griffiths said that he was not in a position to make a recommendation on Wednesday.

"The new drawings only arrived today and so far, those here today and the RNLI are the only ones to see them.

"They need to be circulated to the likes of Tenby Town Council and Tenby 2020, who expressed concern about the original design, for their views.

"I think a deferment for another month would be in order. The RNLI are not looking to start on site until October next year, so there is no desperate urgency if the application were delayed until our November meeting."

Clr. Mrs. Rosemary Hayes felt that Mr. Griffiths and fellow Park officers should be congratulated on the work they had put in with the RNLI.

"It has taken a lot of effort to come up with this design," she said.

"It's certainly going along the right lines."

Mr. Edward Holdaway agreed.

"Given the constraints of the agreed location, all have done a very good job. This building will be something worthy of the future," he said.

"I think we were right to spend the time we did in dialogue with the RNLI," commented Mr. Elwyn Owen. "What we have now is something that will sit nicely in its location and may even, in due course, become an icon."

"This illustrates the importance of hanging on for what you believe is good design," agreed Clr. Steve Watkins.