Sir,

Recently I sent a letter to the Tenby Civic Society querying why it had allowed the local and county planning committees to accept the new scheme for the old Tenby lifeboat house. The reply was swift.

It appeared that originally the town and county councils, plus the National Park, were happy for the 'shed' to be demolished. Alas, some nameless, faceless Welsh Assembly minister vetoed their application for demolition. The Assembly recommended that the RNLI should find a viable user for conversion. So at that point in time the town council and county council turned 180 degrees and backed the new scheme - totally contrary to their original views.

I sent another letter to the Civic Society and asked 'Why?'. I was always under the impression that the shed belonged to the Cown Properties and leased to the RNLI. So why was the RNLI now in a position to sell or sub-lease the shed?

In the past, the RNLI had asked for alterations to the shed - for extra windows and up-to-date radio and navigational aerials - and were turned down. The local shrine was 'listed' and could not be modified. So the next question was 'How come the new sponsors/developer and the Assembly minister could decide to let the new project go ahead?' To date no reply.

A gentleman also wrote to the Observer suggesting that the lack of interest in local politics by the electors was due to their own attitude indicated by the pathetic lack of voters at all elections. He might be part right.

A short time ago there was a vacancies on the town council and four people indicated that they were keen to be considered as candidates. So I queried why there had not been a local by-election and the electors given the opportunity to vote for their choice.

The reply was terse and, apparently, quite within the rules. If a councillor resigns, the vacancy is notified to the Pembrokeshire County Council. The vacancy is advertised in the local paper and if, within 21 days of the vacancy being declared, 10 or more electors ask for a by-election, then one is called. If no request is made, then the town council has the authority to fill the vacancy by co-option.

To me, that means that the select committee of the town council can pick its own favourite. It could well be that the gentleman is right - it is time that the electors came awake.

Ivor Jenkins,

23 Dombey Road,

Poynton,

Cheshire.