Plans for a drinking quarters to be introduced on a medieval lane leading down to Tenby harbour look set to be approved by the National Park next week.

Three planning applications from Mike Evans owner of the seaside town’s Harbwr Brewery will go before Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’s development management committee, with the Authority’s case officer recommending approval for all three.

The first is a retrospective change of use application to allow a building called the Bath Store located on Sergeants Lane to be used Under Class A3 for retail, sales and public seating for use relating to the microbrewery opposite.

The application site comprises an existing stone building which forms part of a range of historic commercial properties that have a long-standing connection with the nearby harbour.

Tenby Civic Society have raised concerns that the proposal will create noise nuisance to the residential properties adjoining Bridge Street/Crackwell Street; whilst one objector has raised concern regarding the intensification of A3 use in an historic residential area and the capacity of the site to accommodate the proposal.

Another member of the public has also objected on the grounds that external tables may not allow adequate pedestrian access.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s highways department has raised no objections to the proposal, but the Council’s access officer has raised the following advisory comment: “There have been previous complaints about Café Culture in this area. While visitors and the venue staff may like to see tables and chairs lining the pavements, these pavements help disabled people to go about their day as normal, and disabled people do not want additional obstacles blocking a route.

“Proprietors often do not give accessibility enough consideration and there needs to be a well thought out balance between attracting more customers who want to sit outside and not causing a disabled person additional stress.”

The other applications (both full and listed) seek a retrospective change of use of the Grade II Listed former stable building and stable yard, with alterations to roofs, including insertion of roof-lights, and the restoration of glazing and doors.

For many years the buildings located on Sergeant’s Lane have been left unmaintained and falling into general dilapidation and disrepair, and rented out as storage spaces.

It is believed that the stables, and some of the other buildings on the eastern side were originally constructed as workers housing - possibly fishermen’s cottages, before being converted into stabling.

Up until the late 1990s many of the buildings were incorporated as warehousing and stores for Hermann Thomas and Co Plumbers. With much of the yard buildings used as storage, the stables were actually still in use up until a few yers ago, running horse drawn carriage rides around the seaside town.

After recently revisiting this application to give their views, members of Tenby Town Council have stated that while they welcome plans to enhance and preserve these historic buildings, they are concerned as to the effect of the expansion of this business on the amenity of neighbours.

Tenby councillors had met with residents living nearby who pointed out that they were disgruntled that the former stables had already been partly transformed on the back end of last summer, prior to planning permission being granted, to provide a place for the public to drink, with some highlighting that a new ‘drinking quarters’ had been formed, which had on occasion included karaoke nights.

Tenby Civic Society has also raised concerns on the proposal which include the lack of clear access within the lane, expansion of the A3 use, impact on amenity, hours of use, waste storage and the lack of employment created from the proposal.

In a report set to go before PCNPA committee members, planning case officer Andrew Richards stated: “Whilst noise has been raised as an issue no reported noise complaints have been identified by the public protection team from the existing A3 uses in Sergeants Lane to date.

“Whilst it is recognised that there are several residential dwellings within close proximity to the host site and that there may be some impact on their amenity from the surrounding commercial businesses, it is not considered that the proposed development would result in any direct significant impact on these properties.

“The development will generate waste and traffic within this area and the agent has confirmed that the waste generated will be stored internally until collection.

“It is considered that conditions should be imposed to control opening hours to 8 am to 11 pm, Monday to Saturday; 10 am to 7 pm, Sundays; and to control deliveries and collections between 7 am to 7 pm, Monday to Friday only, with no collections on Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays.

“It is noted that any licensable activities are subject to separate legislation. Therefore, the current proposal is considered to be acceptable in this instance and can be supported, subject to the imposition of the proposed conditions,” added Mr Richards.

Members of PCNPA’s development management committee will determine the applications when they meet on Wednesday, February 1.