Tenby town Councillors have backed a revised application put forward to turn the former TP Hughes store into a luxury hotel/restaurant, proposals which Market Traders fear will impact on them.

The revised plans (reference: NP/24/0438/FUL) for a change of use of retail store and part change of use of the Market Hall and former Town Hall to a Spa Hotel, Restaurant and Café/Bar, associated extensions and alterations, at 12 High Street came before members of Tenby Town Council at their meeting on January 14.

The application submitted by Bassett Crockford Holdings Ltd via agent Gerald Blain Associates Ltd now looks to remodel the former town hall to accommodate the spa and gym facilities for the hotel, with the area to be linked to the hotel via a new opening between the two buildings on the first floor.

The historic market hall building is owned by Pembrokeshire County Council, who have come in for criticism from traders who run their businesses from the facility, over a lack of consultation on matters.

Tenby councillors recommended approval for the application, subject to protection of existing market operations; to appropriate levels of illumination into the market below the proposed first floor extension and subject to an agreed action plan with PCC for integration with potential refurbishment of the market.

Their views will be passed onto Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.

Concerns flagged-up by market traders point to the fact that they fear they will - lose 3 store rooms and staff toilets without any guarantee of replacements; as well as losing a large space of the market hall and a retail unit.

Traders also fear possible closure of the market for a prolonged period of time while work takes place, with no plan offered as to what will happen to their businesses.

The Observer understands that even though PCC has been in discussions with the developers, no agreement had been reached when the revised application had been submitted to PCNPA for consideration before the Christmas period on December 16.

When contacted by the Observer on the application, a spokesperson for PCC stated: “The Council is in discussion with the owners of the former TP Hughes building about the proposals to extend into part of the Market building and is happy to consider it as an option, subject to appropriate commercial terms being agreed, as it may well help sustain and improve the Market as a whole.

“Any comprehensive redevelopment of the Market will be relatively complex for a number of reasons including the concerns raised by the Traders, as such, no exact proposal has been settled on and we are still at the option appraisal stage.

“A number of meetings have been held with the Traders about the proposal from next door, including with the Deputy Leader, Cllr Paul Miller and the Local Member Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall.

“The Council has confirmed that the detail is yet to be agreed and that traders will be consulted on the specifics of any proposal that might be progressed.”