Applicants looking to situate a ‘community cash pod’ on land opposite Tenby’s historic town walls have seen their appeal against a decision by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority to refuse the plans, turned down.

The application (Ref: NP/24/0204/FUL) by Miss Elisabeth Pywell of HSBC for the erection of a cash pod on land in the north-east corner of the Five Arches Car Park, was refused last year by PCNPA, with the Local Planning Authority, believing that it would be ‘inappropriate’ in terms of its siting and design, resulting in harm being caused to the setting of a Scheduled Ancient Monument (Tenby Town Walls) and the Grade II listed building Holyrood and St. Teilo’s Church.

“The proposal neither enhances or preserves Tenby's Conservation Area and is considered to have an adverse impact on its appearance,” stated PCNPA’s case officer at the time.

“Given its prominent location and its impact upon important views of Tenby Town Walls and the listed Church, and its failure to preserve or enhance the appearance of Tenby’s Conservation Area, it is considered that the cash pod is inappropriate in terms of its siting and design.”

It was hoped that the ‘cash pod’ would go someway to alleviating the seaside town’s cash-point crisis, with the last bank [HSBC] closing last summer, leaving only two ATM machines remaining.

An appeal launched against the decision has now been dismissed by L. Hughson-Smith LLB MSc MRTPI - a planning inspector appointed by Welsh Ministers, following a site visit earlier this year.

The inspector acknowledged that the pod would offer 24/7 enhanced banking facilities which would benefit the community and make some economic contribution; but felt that its ‘utilitarian’ appearance would be ‘unsympathetic’ on the streetscene.

Members of the April 9 meeting of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee heard that the appeal had been dismissed.

“Due to its design, position and orientation, the ‘community cash pod’ would be a prominent and unsympathetic structure that would be particularly noticeable from the seafront approach and partially obscure views of the Church,” stated the inspector in their report dismissing the appeal.

“It would make a negative contribution to the setting of the Church and Town Walls, causing harm to their significance, and fail to preserve the character and appearance of the Conservation Area.”

The related application for costs was also dismissed.

At the April meeting of PCNPA, members were told by officers: “Hopefully the applicants will come back with a better application that doesn’t sit next to a listed church.”

Planned banking services to be housed in a new ‘community hub’ at the De Valence Pavilion, by Tenby Town Council, now seem up in the air, after the town clerk stated this month, that plans have been put on hold for the time being.

“Following ongoing discussions and consultations with both the Principality Building Society and the local Chamber of Trade, the Council are reviewing the most appropriate way to provide some form of banking facility within the hub,” he stated.