Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority's conservation officer Rob Scourfield has been in touch with the town council to tell them that he recently held a "very productive" meeting with the architects, but was awaiting revised details of the Gatehouse and Delphi schemes subject to various design issues.
Mr. Scourfield had also pushed the developers to consider some public consultation and in particular a meeting with the town council.
"There are certain sensitivities here of course, from our end we feel better that you see details in advance of the public once something more 'developed' is produced. The initial designs sent to us may have set pulses unduly racing," reported Mr. Scourfield in an e-mail brought before town councillors at their meeting on Tuesday evening.
One central issue causing concern for PCNPA was the future of the Royal Playhouse Cinema.
"The law is very strong on the loss of a listed building, even if it is 'in the way', and we have reiterated this throughout and I hope we will now see a scheme that keeps it - or rather its facade - within the new development," continued Mr. Scourfield.
PCNPA are said to be pushing for a more traditional approach for a design at the Gatehouse, replicating the hotel's main facades and using the traditional local sash windows and render elsewhere.
"One might like to argue against this philosophy, but we need to weigh this up against simply getting things moving and avoiding possible local outcry at something ultra-modern," added Mr. Scourfield.
In response to Mr. Scourfield's comments, Clr. Mrs. Trisha Putwain felt that he was "rather underestimating" the people of Tenby who might just be in favour of a more modern design, while Clr. Mike Thorne felt that PCNPA should be encouraged more to keep the cinema building as a whole rather than just its facade.
"We should continue to push for a meeting so we can put across our views," said Clr. Thorne.