Plans to introduce a new vehicular access and carry out extension work to a prominent Grade II listed hotel near Tenby’s North Beach were approved at a planning meeting this week.

The application, from Leisureplax Hotels Ltd to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority for the provision of a three-storey rear extension and a new vehicular access through the existing Cliffe Norton Hotel situated at 10 The Norton, was unanimously approved by members of the authority’s development management committee on Wednesday morning at a meeting held in Pembroke Dock.

The vehicular access would connect to the rear car park, with the plans seeking permission to demolish rear late additions. New rear windows and doors with minor internal alterations throughout also form part of the application.

The new scheme will provide a total of 91 rooms within the premises, which has been a hotel since 1930.

Listed building consent was also approved by the committee subject to planning conditions set out.

A number of neighbouring residents had objected to the proposals, with practising architect David Morgan, who lives on The Norton, speaking against the scheme at the meeting.

“I live two doors away from the hotel and witness the situation 24/7. The coaches that drop off and pick up at the premises already cause absolute chaos at a much-used junction,” he said.

“They arrive some times three at a time, and perform dangerous three-point turns, and some times even end up parking on the zebra crossing itself!

“The Norton is a main road into the town centre. It is illegal to park on this road as there are double yellow lines both sides. These plans will have an unacceptable impact on amenity, cause more traffic congestion, and danger to pedestrian and road safety,” added Mr. Morgan.

Planning committee member Clr. Mike Evans said that he hoped that this scheme would be an opportunity for the authority to work with the developers in putting a correction in their procedures for coaches loading and unloading.

“The hotel knows when these coaches are arriving. If I was living there, I’d find it unacceptable to have a coach engine running outside my property for 90 minutes too!

“This is a well-respected company and this is a chance to work with them. Personally, I’d welcome the proposal, it is a shot in the arm for Tenby!” added Clr. Evans, with his colleague and the deputy chairman, Clr. Michael Williams, agreeing that it should be critical that some form of traffic management plan be added to the conditions to alleviate the issues caused by coaches parking outside the hotel.

Clr. Phillip Kidney agreed that the coaches caused a spot of chaos, but said that it was a ‘massive development’ for Tenby.

“Maybe timed drops for the coaches are the way forward, but this is a great development for the town and one we need to back,” he told his colleagues.

PCNPA’s building conservation officer Rob Scourfield also discussed the listed building application for the premises, stating that the proposal was considered acceptable in terms of preserving the architectural and historic character of the property.

Committee members unanimously approved both applications for the hotel subject to conditions set out.