Council plans to introduce permanent ‘industrial’ metal gates to prevent vehicle entry on to Tenby’s iconic harbour pier have been refused by the National Park.

In an application to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, Pembrokeshire County Council sought permission to install a swing gate that prevents unauthorised vehicle entry, but allows pedestrians to access the picturesque pier end.

Temporary gates have been used in the past couple of years by PCC, to control access to the pier, with a number of youngsters at times congregating in the location, as well as those that have been jumping in the harbour waters at high tides, which many boat operators have labelled dangerous. The move had also been made to combat ‘boy racers’ parking up at the picturesque location.

The scheme included a related listed building consent application covering the harbour ‘pier’.

The application had been supported by Tenby Town Council members, but Tenby Civic Society objected due to design, operation, justification and impact on the harbour setting.

A National Park officer report recommending refusal stated: “Whilst consultees are generally supportive of the proposal, it is not regarded as acceptable in terms of its impact upon the special qualities of the National Park including both character and appearance of Tenby Conservation Area and the setting of listed buildings.”

“The pier itself is Grade-II-listed and the site lies within Tenby Conservation Area central to the iconic harbour view.

“Due to the industrial design of the gates in what is a highly sensitive and extremely popular area, the proposal is not considered to preserve the setting of the listed pier or the character or appearance of Tenby Conservation Area.

“It therefore follows that there will be an impact on the special qualities of the National Park, that the proposal will cause visual intrusion and that it pays little regard to the sense of place and local distinctiveness.

“Whilst it is recognised that restricting access to the working pier would sustain harbour activities and may contribute to a certain extent to supporting community cohesion and health, the proposal is not considered to conserve or enhance the existing character of the harbour.”

“The design and scale of the gates neither preserve or enhance the character of the area. In terms of character, the pier currently is available for users and visitors to enjoy daily except when during occasional events and operations when temporary fencing is erected. The proposed meshed metal gates are seen as intrusive in this context, quite alien to the public enjoyment of the area.

“Officers have considered the weight to be given to the desirability of restricting access to the working pier and reducing conflicts such as tombstoning activities and conflicts with boats. Temporary fencing has currently been used to achieve this which does not require permission.”

The application was refused on the grounds it ‘would introduce an unacceptable visual intrusion due to the overly industrial design of the proposed gates which would not conserve or enhance the existing character of the harbour’.