Further questions over a development next door to Tenby’s historic market hall, have been put to members of the Town Council, with assurances sought that historic features of the building will be protected and preserved.

At the recent meeting of Tenby Town Council, members received correspondence with regards to the planned works for the hotel//restaurant at the former TP Hughes building which sits alongside the facility, having a ‘detrimental effect’ on certain aspects of the market.

Plans for the former department store [most recently an M&Co shop], and to change part of the market and former town hall above, into a luxury spa hotel, restaurant and café, submitted by Bassett Crockford Holdings Ltd, were given the go-ahead by members of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’s development management committee back in April.

The scheme was supported by Tenby Town Council, subject to conditions including the protection of existing market operations, and an agreed action plan for integration with potential refurbishment of the market. Tenby Civic Society however raised concerns about the spa/fitness suite having an impact on the running of the market traders’ businesses.

The questions posed to councillors at their June meeting were: ‘Will the planned work at Tenby Market Hall and Tenby Old Town Hall have any detrimental effect on - The two antique hand-painted sign-boards at the Market entrance with their lists of produce and tariffs?’

...and ‘The gigantic set of panels painted by Eric Broadforth that stands beneath the window against the Market Hall's southern wall?’

‘Will some effort be made by the Council to protect and conserve these splendid items during the planned alterations?’

Responding at the meeting, Cllr Laurence Blackhall said, that firstly, he was not expecting an immediate response, but this was an issue for Pembrokeshire County Council (who own the market building) as a whole.

He said that he hoped that PCC have heard the views of the people of Tenby and also the traders and that, with developments happening around the market, they progress the work on getting a scheme in place to refurbish the market.

“It may be useful for Tenby Town Council to contact the Deputy Leader [Cllr Paul Miller at PCC] commenting that we would love to see more progress and will be prepared to contribute in any way we can,” remarked Cllr Blackhall.

“Secondly, when any scheme and commitment, is in place, it has to protect the character and nature of the market and retain some of those key features.

“If the building is listed then so are its contents,” he continued.

“It would be mad to produce any scheme that did not include protecting and preserving significant elements,” he added.

Cllr Dr Tara Carmody said that she felt this was an opportunity to investigate any restorative work needed on the artefacts.

“These are valuable sociable documents in relation to the town and market,” she commented.

Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall said she woul chase PCC’s Deputy Leader, regarding moving forward, adding: “This needs to be addressed as soon as possible.”