Pembrokeshire Coast National Park's chief executive has responded this week to Tenby Town Council's concerns over the disrepair of one of the town's historic hotels and adjoining properties. Mr. Nic Wheeler's letter in response to councillors' concerns over the Royal Gatehouse Hotel, was brought before members at their meeting on Wednesday evening. "We have been dealing with the prospective developers who have agreed in principle to undertake emergency repairs," reported Mr. Wheeler. "A comprehensive planning application is currently awaiting registration, although of necessity this process will not be completed overnight, and even then I appreciate that we will be in the hands of the developer in terms of the actual implementation of any consent. Action to secure the retention and safety in relation to these important listed buildings will in meantime continue as a separate, if parallel, process. "We are confident that this submitted redevelopment scheme does provide a viable way forward to resolve this longstanding and particularly unfortunate situation. As such, we would like to concentrate on moving this forward and not undertake anything which might prejudice that outcome," continued Mr. Wheeler. "That said, for the time being the authority is about to serve an urgent works notice on the owner in parallel with the enforcement of a dangerous structures notice by the county council. The outcome will be the making safe of the bay windows/render, making the roof to Milford House weather-tight and generally decorating the facades," he added. Responding to the correspondence, Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown said: "I'm pleased we've had a reply, even if it is a so-so letter. I just don't understand why it's taken the developer three years to decide what to do, and why there has always been an excuse put forward as to why things haven't been done." However, her colleague, Clr. Damien Brown, gave his backing to the development. "This is a major chunk of Tenby that is going to be developed, and with the best will in the world a project like this is going to take time. "Yes, I know that the building is an eyesore, but I'm concerned that people, including the developers, would have read the 'hoo-ha' it's caused on the front of last week's Observer and we don't want to ruin the chances of this development happening," he added. Mayor, Clr. John Griffiths, disagreed and stated that the owner of the properties had been talking about the development for nigh-on 15 years, which he felt was far too long, and that the council were right to voice their concerns in recent weeks over the issue.
