A planning application for a new pier and pontoon at Tenby Harbour is set to be refused by members of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority's development management committee next week.

The application, submitted by Pembrokeshire County Council, seeks approval to construct a pedestrian pier, bridge and tidal pontoon off the north side of the outer pier, of the harbour, to provide improved access for fishing/day-trip boat users and visiting yachts.

However, the proposed scheme, which is set to come before members of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park's development management committee at their meeting on Wednesday, has been recommended for refusal by the authority's planning officers, who have stated in a report that the proposals are considered to be 'unacceptable' in terms of the impact on the setting of the listed pier and adjoining listed buildings.

Planning officers also said that they believed the scheme would have an impact on the character and amenity of the conservation area, and have an adverse impact on the privacy and amenity of adjacent residential dwellings within the harbour area.

In addition, officers say 'insufficient justification' has been made for the works, with no detailed evaluation provided of alternative, less sensitive locations for a pedestrian pier/pontoon or improving infrastructure, and while there may be an element of public benefit in improving access to boats, this is not considered sufficient so as to outweigh the impact on the character of the listed pier.

"The proposed development would have an unacceptable impact on the character and setting of the listed pier, which is a key part of the 'iconic' view of Tenby Harbour," the officer's report states, explaining that the design of the pedestrian pier would be a large and intrusive feature, dislocated from the 'working' end of the pier, and prominently visible.

"As such, the proposal does not have special regard to the desirability of preserving the pier or its setting or any features of architectural or historic interest which it possesses.

"The proposed development by virtue of its scale, siting, form and design and its relationship with adjoining properties, would result in the development and its concentrated use by the public having a detrimental impact on the amenities and privacy of neighbouring residential properties which the National Park Authority has a statutory duty to conserve and enhance," continues the report.

The plans were given the thumbs up by local councillors at a meeting of Tenby Town Council last week, however, Tenby Sailing Club indicated last year, when the proposals originally were circulated that the scheme wouldn't work for a number of reasons, with harbour users expressing the need for a more permanent structure to increase access at the harbour.