A chip shop in Tenby seeking to extend the hours it is allowed to sell hot take-away food has received the backing of local councillors, who have accepted that the ‘dynamics’ of the area in which the premises is located have changed in recent times.

An application from the owners of Tenby’s Traditional Fish and Chip Shop located on Trafalgar Road, for a variation of condition No. 2 of NP/14/0073 to allow the sale of hot take-away food between 7.30 am and 9.30 pm from April 1 or Good Friday (whichever is the sooner) to September 7 in any calendar year, and 7.30 am to 8.30 pm at all other times, has been out forward to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority for consideration.

Discussing the application at Tuesday night’s meeting of the town council, the town clerk, Andrew Davies, offered members some background on the history of the premises’ licence, explaining that in the late 2000s the lease at the establishment changed hands and the premises was converted from a cafe to a fish and chips restaurant.

The owners sought to alter the conditions of the opening hours back in 2014 to allow them to open until 9.30 pm, but the application was recommended for refusal by Tenby Town Council, and the National Park’s development management committee turned it down, agreeing that the the later opening times could have an adverse effect on the residential area, with more noise, odours and litter etc.

“The owners appealed this decision at the time and it went to the planning inspectorate, who dismissed the appeal,” explained Mr. Davies.

“However, the applicant’s agent now argues that the decision to allow the Dominos restaurant/takeaway in the vicinity to trade until 10 pm during the week and 11 pm on weekends, just 100 metres from their site, has altered the dynamics of the area,” he continued.

Councillors received a letter of objection to the proposals from a resident living on Trafalgar Road, claiming that the business operators of Tenby’s Traditional Fish and Chip Shop had on ‘numerous occasions’ ignored the conditions of the opening hours that they have been permitted regularly throughout school holiday periods and Ironman - concerned that if they were not adhering to the current hours, then why would they adhere to the extended hours.

Clr. Tony Brown agreed that the dynamics of the area had ‘definitely changed’.

“I don’t think we can object to it, as like Dominos, under appeal, they would have a chance of overturning it.

“I am concerned about extra rubbish in that area, which is an ongoing concern, but to be fair, the operators at the premises seem to be doing everything they can to clean up the tables outside the building.

“If they have broken the rules of the hours they are allowed to trade, then the authorities need to keep a close eye on it,” he added, with his colleague Clr. Will Crockford concurring.

“Does the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority police it? It’s a worry that if they’re given until 9.30 pm to trade, would they sneak another half-an-hour in, so the trading time becomes until 10 pm,” he remarked.

Clr. Viv Perry said that he too had concerns about takeaway rubbish along that area with gulls attacking it - stating that the area around the war memorial was definitely getting ‘scruffier’ lately.

The Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Sue Lane, agreed with her fellow councillors that they’d offer no objections to the application, as long as the operators adhere to the trading times conditions set out and that PCNPA monitored the situation.

The recommendations of the town council will now be forwarded to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.