Approved plans for the former TP Hughes department store in Tenby, and to change part of the market and former town hall next door - to a luxury spa hotel, restaurant and café could be completed in just 18 months despite concerns voiced by market traders.

In an application recommended for conditional approval at the April 9 meeting of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’s development management committee, Bassett Crockford Holdings Ltd sought permission for a change of use the former TP Hughes/M&Co store and a part change of use of the council-owned market hall and former town hall to a spa hotel, restaurant and cafe/bar, with associated extensions and alterations at 12 High Street and Old Town Hall and Market Hall.

The development for a new hotel extends across two buildings; the 20 hotel rooms will be located within the remaining upper floors of the existing M&Co buildings, and two new roof extensions in a mansard form to accommodate further hotel space.

The spa would be located at first floor level of the town hall aspect, and into the market’s first floor.

Further facilities in the form of a café will be linked to the hotel reception area at ground floor with additional toilet facilities and bicycle storage provided within the basement level. The proposed restaurant will be accommodated within the southern building.

The scheme was supported by Tenby Town Council, subject to conditions including the protection of existing market operations, and an agreed action plan for integration with potential refurbishment of the market.

Tenby Civic Society raised concerns though about the spa/fitness suite having an impact on the running of the market traders’ businesses.

Concerns have previously been raised about the impact on existing market traders during construction both in terms of noise and dust during works and a potential temporary market closure for construction work to be undertaken, with one trader speaking on their behalf at the April 9 meeting.

They said that while the market itself – believed to be the oldest in Wales – was ‘flourishing’ despite the building being in need of renovation, there had been a lack of reassurance and feedback from Pembrokeshire County Council, as landlords of the hall, as the proposed scheme progressed.

They stressed there was no objection to the neighbouring hotel but to the the potential impact on the market operations through the upstairs spa development.

“Tenby Market is believed to be the oldest market in Wales, being on the same site since 1290, it has a charm all its own. Customers flock to the market in the summer and locals use it all year round, we had approximately 27,000 customers alone just in our shop last year,” they told the planning meeting.

“It is a market in the traditional vain with currently 10 businesses operating out of there. There would be more businesses but since this building work has been on the cards all new contracts are off.

“I speak for all the market traders when I say our main concern is the extension to the upstairs. The spa part of the project, to be built in the old town hall and extend out into the market hall, supported by two large pillars.

“We believe this will ruin the look and the culture of a successful working market.

“We have not had a computer graphic of how the market hall will look after the work is complete but from the plans it very much looks like pillars will block the view down through the market hall putting a barrier in front of the customers and blocking natural light.

“Tenby Town Council have approved the plan without consulting us. We have been told it is because they had assurances from Crockford Bassett Holdings Ltd, that the existing market traders will be not be affected and we will not lose any trade.

“We have also been told that this major, noisy work can be done at night and at the weekends. But how realistic is that?

“We have not seen a method statement, but it will involve tradesman willing to work at night or weekends for a considerable amount of time.

“It stands to reason that layers of dust and materials will still be there the next day and then it will not be Mr Crockford who asks us to leave, his deal will not be broken with the council, it will be our landlords PCC who will deem this unworkable!

“Perhaps alternative accommodation may then be offered, but again realistically no suitable premises will be available to us and then what for us all?

“The market can employ up to 30 people, all those local jobs bring revenue into the town, all the market staff live locally.

“We should have had assurance and regular feedback from our landlords about these developments but PCC have not kept us adequately informed, with little communication from them we have learnt most of our news from the newspaper and we are all worried sick.

“As the National Parks we look to you to help look after the cultural heritage of our town and support our community as stated in Stanford principle. You are being asked to consider the future of not just us but our local suppliers as well. You are dealing here with a successful market, it does not need to be turned into a trendy food hall, with a spa above it, we have thousands of customers! Should that not be encouraged?” they continued.

“We have no objection to the hotel next door. More retail would have been good but a boutique hotel could be an all-year-round business.

“We have two spas in the town already. Do we need one in the high street in a listed building?

“The High Street has been under constant attack from online shopping and our community has already been affected by this – but our friendly Tenby Market has somehow bucked the trend.

“We are not averse to change but fundamentally we need to earn a certain amount each week to pay our staff. If we have to close for any amount of time, none of us are wealthy, it will be unsustainable.

“The empty Town hall space above has many possibilities that could benefit the wider community . Could S01 money be used to facilitate this, so the public can benefit from our market and the listed building that it is housed in. Could the town library move in or the town council?

“We feel you need to revisit this, we need you to look again at the plans and the long-term implications of building this extension on what is only a rented space.

“So please, we implore you to consider the small guy here. A spa is for the few but a market is for the masses.”

The developers’ agent Phil Davies told the committee there was no intention to disrupt the market, with the potential for putting that section of works on hold if there were any potential renovations to the hall through the council.

He said the whole scheme was expected to take 18 months to complete.

The committee later heard from county councillor for Tenby’s south ward Sam Skyrme-Blackhall (who did not vote on the application, after declaring an interest) who stated that discussions were ongoing at council level with potential funding identified.

The application was given conditional delegated approval to senior park officers on completion of a S106 legal agreement to cover financial contributions.

A related listed building application was also granted delegated approval.