Sir, I am writing with regard to the building known at present as St. Teresa's Convent, Five Arches, Tenby. It is proposed that it become an hotel with restaurant and bar. The proposed hotel is attached to the parish hall and immediately adjacent to the church. We have services every day and children attend regularly. In particular, the children from our school walk by the old convent on the various occasions when they attend church. My parishioners and I are most disturbed at the proposed 'hotel sign' as depicted in the 'Tenby Observer.' Over many years, the nuns of St. Teresa's convent were held in esteem and affection by the townspeople of Tenby. St. Teresa herself is a saint revered by millions of Christians around the world. The proposed 'hotel sign' is gratuitously insulting to a serious degree. It is depressing that our proper Catholic sensitivities could be trampled on in such a crass manner. If the wife of Mohammed were portrayed in a similar fashion the consequences would be international. The 'sign' indicates such a total lack of taste and appropriateness that we are deeply troubled about the clientele that the proposed hotel is aiming to attract. For many years Tenby suffered a bad reputation due to the excesses of 'stag and hen nights' which not only created damage and disturbances, but drove away ordinary patrons. The Five Arches at present can be the focus of some midnight noise and disruption. I do not think it would benefit the town if this area became some kind of mini Soho. We are grateful for the wisdom and sense of decency shown by those local councillors who rejected the sign and we have no objection to the building becoming a respectable hotel. However, the extraordinary decision to submit the above mentioned sign for planning approval, does not fill us with much confidence about the maturity and quality of management which the proposed hotel will employ.
Canon B. A. Kinrade MA VG,
Holyrood and St. Teilo, St. Florence Parade Tenby.