Plans for a new café in Tenby were unanimously approved at a meeting of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’s development management committee this week.

The application submitted by Rhys Jordan, of Feel Good Inc Ltd., for a change of use of a B1 office to A3 café use at 1 Warren Street, was given the thumbs up at the meeting on Wednesday morning.

Members of the town council had recommended refusal of the plans, on the grounds that this type of office space was already in insufficient supply within the local area.

Town councillors had also raised concerns over the detrimental impact that the proposal would have on the amenity of two neighbouring places of worship known as St. Johns Church and Deer Park Baptist Church, located some 13 metres and 35 metres, respectively, from the site.

In a report that went before members of the development management committee, National Park planning case officer, Andrew Richards, said: “The café does not propose any external alterations or any outdoor seating, so will be limited to the existing internal space.

“The existing fenestration does not open apart from the main access door, so noise and other disturbances from the main area to the adjoining properties and nearby places of worship will be very limited.

“With regard to opening hours for the proposed café use, the application does not detail any proposed hours, but through consultation with the pollution control officer and the agent, it is considered necessary to limit the café opening hours from 8 am to 6 pm, to prevent any adverse noise and nuisance impacts to the neighbourhood,” he explained

Mr. Richards also mentioned in his report that Tenby Town Council had raised concerns about detrimental effect in relation to potential delivery traffic generated, but Pembrokeshire County Council’s highways development control officer had been consulted and raised no objections in terms of highway safety.

He went on to explain that Tenby Civic Society had raised their own concerns with the proposed signage, with Mr. Richards stating that planning officers shared the same views, and a separate advertisement application would be required in this instance.