Signage advertising a takeaway food kiosk at a former lifeboat store in Tenby’s seaside harbour has been approved, despite the takeaway itself being turned down.

In an application before Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s March development management committee, Ruby Goodrick sought permission from Pembrokeshire Coast National Park planners to turn the old RNLI lifeboat store, Penniless Cove, Tenby Harbour, into a takeaway cold food outlet, open 10am-10pm seven days a week.

A supporting statement accompanying the application said she has a five-year lease from Pembrokeshire County Council to use the site; an accompany flood risk assessment saying the beach-side site is not at risk of tidal flooding is considered low risk.

The application came before committee members rather than an officer decision as Tenby Town Council had objected, proposed to be called Truly@The Harbour, building on the success of the applicant’s mother’s former sandwich shop in the town called Truly Scrumptious.

The scheme had previously come under fire from Tenby Civic Society and Tenby North county councillor Michael Williams.

Cllr Williams wrote to the park authority saying: “To allow this development would do considerable damage to the historical environment of the harbour estate which is a Grade-II-listed building.”

He pointed out that this is the only area of the harbour where commercial fishing activities can be operated, and it is used by a number of commercial fishing vessels to land catches.

“The very nature of this work would be entirely incompatible with this proposal,” Cllr Williams added.

“My other concern is that a precedent might well be created opening up this priceless historical area to unacceptable and unsuitable commercial exploitation.”

At the March meeting, refusal, against officer recommendations, was moved by Cllr Simon Hancock, who said: “It’s a commendable enterprise but I just feel this is the wrong location, it’s almost an alien feature in what is a working harbour,” adding: “With regret I’m going to move we refuse this application.”

He was joined by Tenby councillor Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall, who said she was “all for new businesses in the town, especially for young people,” but worried about a potential precedent being set by approval.

That meeting included a related application for a display board to the front of the property advertising the takeaway, also recommended for approval, which was deferred for a delegated decision to be made.

The sign scheme has seen objections by both Tenby Town Council and Tenby Civic Society.

An officer report said the signage “would not have an adverse impact upon the special qualities of the National Park, amenity, nor public safety,” adding: “As such, it is considered to be in accordance [with policies].”

The signage part of the two applications was conditionally approved by park officers.