Sir,
On behalf of many dedicated people who believe in the RNLI and contribute to it, I apologise for the stupidity put upon them. From the moment when the new lifeboat and its house were united, the old lifeboat house was redundant. The RNLI were saddled with the old full maintaining lease from the Crown Properties. At that point, permission should have been given for demolition - but no, it was not even fully debated.
The town of Tenby, the County Council and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park dodged the issue. It had to be debated by the Welsh National Assembly, Cadw and Georgian and Victorian Societies. The RNLI were told that 'the potential for suitable alternative use had not been adequately investigated'.
It has been obvious that the lovers of 'The shed' had no intention of leasing it or any intention of finding the dream alternative use. So I assume that the Tenby people wanted it 'as it is - a Grade II listed building', but with no contribution to the cost of conservation.
According to the agency tasked with finding the new tenant, it was stated in the Tenby Observer, May 2, 2008, that 'Fine and Country would like to point out that the former lifeboat house is not for sale'. That became very clear when someone offered to acquire it for the people of Tenby. If he wanted to buy it, he had first to find an acceptable and suitable tenant. The Tenby people who yearned for the continuity of 'The life of the shed' did not even join the queue for that tenancy.
So the RNLI is still saddled with a lease that it needs like a leaking lifeboat and their landlord, the Crown Properties, is debarred from selling a shed that has outlived its use. I look forward to the written justification for stupidity.
Ivor Jenkins,
Cheshire.