Members of Tenby Chamber of Trade have written to local councillors calling upon them to provide reassurances that retail outlets will be protected within the seaside town to keep it ‘thriving’ for both locals and visitors alike.

As well as Tenby Chamber of Trade expressing concerns over potential loss of retail outlets within the seaside town; Tenby Civic Society at the same time are calling upon Pembrokeshire County Council to provide more ‘decisive’ information on the Market Hall’s future.

In correspondence which will go before members of Tenby Town Council at their meeting on Tuesday evening, February 11, Tenby Chamber of Trade members state that they have been in dialogue with traders at the Market Hall which is owned and run by Pembrokeshire County Council, and ‘share their fears’ about what the future may hold for them and the premises itself, in light of an amended planning application submitted to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, from the developers planning to turn the former TP Hughes department store next door into a hotel and restaurant - who have now submitted a revised application looking to incorporate part of the market hall and former town hall above, into the scheme.

The plans for the hotel [which has tentatively been titled 1838] promise to encompass a state-of-the-art gym and lavish spa, featuring treatment rooms, hot tubs, plunge pools, and a steam room.

“We would like to bring to your attention our concerns over of loss of retail on our High Street and in the town as a whole,” wrote Anna Bolton, who runs Charlton Cards located on High Street, on behalf of Tenby Chamber of Trade, in correspondence to Tenby Town Council.

“As we all know Tenby has a thriving High Street which is full of lovely independent shops, fabulous places to eat and some great larger chain stores, but we are also aware that we have to work hard to keep Tenby the buzzing place it is for both locals and visitors.

“In the last 18 months we have lost one retail unit to an office unit, and the very large unit which was at one point TP Hughes/M&Co.

“We have been speaking to the Traders in the iconic Tenby Market Hall and we share their fears about what the future may hold for them and the market itself.

“We are all aware that the hotel development at the former TP Hughes is planning to take over part of the market hall but where does this leave these traders who pay rent and rates to Pembrokeshire County Council.

“The traders seem to be the last to know of any plans and the least informed of everyone involved,” she continued.

“The market itself seems to have been allowed to get into a state of disrepair over a good number of years and this seems to have not been addressed by any of those in authority.

“We, as a Chamber, feel strongly that the market should stay as retail space.

“We would like to know what plans Tenby Town Council have for keeping retail on our High Street?

“What reassurance can you give those traders in the market that the town will be doing its best to help them keep this must needed retail space in Tenby?

“We only have to look at the other high streets in our country to see what happens when we take our eye off the ball and we all need to work together to make sure this never happens in our fantastic town,” she added.

Tenby Civic Society have also written to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority with members’ views on the Listed Building aspect for plans for the hotel application potentially incorporating part of the Market Hall into the scheme.

Harry Gardiner vice chair of Tenby Civic Society remarked in correspondence: “The committee would prefer the Market remaining wholly as a market, as an important part of Tenby’s history, identity, character, community and facilities.

“The County [Council] need to give a more decisive statement on the Market’s future.

“Roof repairs in the application are for the pitched Old Town Hall roof, not the metal market roof, whose state is a concern.

“The Spa’s construction phase would interrupt traders operation; a condition as to construction methods and protection would need the [Pembrokeshire] County’s help with temporary stall relocation.

“The community and retail value of the market is not awarded enough importance in the reports to the applications; clear retention of the retail market into the future would add planning value to the loss of centre retail in this application.

“The current absence of stated [Pembrokeshire] County commitments for the metal roof repair, modernisation, and alternative operating space for Market stall holders during construction and repairs, is unfortunate and means our Committee feel an approval without could damage the character and probably the future of the Market.”

Commenting further on the details of the revised planning application submitted to PCNPA, Mr Gardiner continued: “The elevations and Listed former Town Hall stairs and room are retained. Should the proposal be considered for approval some details of the ground floor market layout changes are inaccurate – so this proposal could be revised to fit better.”

“The exiting and proposed market partition drawings appear to be wrong as the photo on the Page 32 Heritage report shows the kitchen to the market café would be affected by the hotel café toilet proposed under the 1st floor spa.

“False ceiling details are usually provided in Listed Building applications, here for the first floor spa.

“A toilet accessed from in the market ground floor could be added to the new hotel disabled toilet and kitchen, proposed into the empty market stall space, and the position of the spa extension against the existing important large Tenby history mural by Eric Bradforth needs to be clearer,” he added.

Since the revised plans for a change of use of the former TP Hughes retail store at 12 High Street, to turn the premises into a spa hotel, restaurant and cafe/bar, looking to incorporate part of the Market Hall and former Town Hall next door were submitted to PCNPA, concerns have been flagged-up by market traders who have criticised Pembrokeshire County Council for keeping them in the dark over matters.

Traders have expressed their fear of 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.

They have also slammed PCC for a lack of communication and forward planning.

One trader told the Observer, on behalf of other businesses that operate from the market hall: “There have been new plans submitted which includes the loss of the storage room of four of the traders and the construction of a room to house the spa within the market itself.

“The main concern is that the scale of work needed to construct the room for the spa would mean we would have to vacate the market for a length of time - but there are many other concerns.

“We have spoken to Lewis Hinds from PCC’s property department but as yet have had no firm proposals regarding our future.”

The amended application submitted by Bassett Crockford Holdings Ltd via agent Gerald Blain Associates Ltd 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 property has two buildings sitting either side of St Nicholas’s Lane with retail frontages on both the town’s Upper Frog Street and High Street, linked by a first-floor Edwardian bridge which stretches over St Nicholas’s Lane.

A report from the developers of the new hotel’s planning consultant agent to PCNPA, seeks to validate the loss of a retail unit on Tenby’s High Street, setting out further evidence to ‘support and justify’ the change of use of the subject property to non-retail use.

The report states: ‘The report is supported by evidence from the appointed estate agent that marketed the property for retail use.

‘No tenant was found in 15 month of marketing and the agent reports that the size and fragmented nature of the building limits its viability for retail use.

‘The findings of the agent are supported by the suggestions of the SWRRS (South Wales Regional Retail Study) of 2017.

‘Furthermore, the loss of two retailers from the premises in 10 years serves and the continued growth in online retail serves as clear evidence of the significant challenges faced by retail in the area.

‘Therefore, it is concluded that there is sufficient mitigating evidence to overcome conflict with policy 57 arising from the loss of retail space’.

After calls for much needed improvements and maintenance work to the building, with a leaking roof continuously causing problems for traders, it was said that the historic hall - home of one of the oldest markets in Pembrokeshire - was in line for some much needed TLC to secure its future, with the Local Authority said to be ‘engaged in discussions’ with the developers of the new spa hotel and restaurant next door back in November.

Pembrokeshire County Council – which has responsibility for maintaining the market – has come in for longstanding criticism for not putting any ‘meaningful investment’ into the Grade II-listed market hall for many years.

Back in October, members of Tenby Town Council gave their backing to the initial plans to transform one of the seaside town’s main retail stores into a hotel and restaurant.

Giving their recommendations on the application to PCNPA, town councillors recommended approval for the plans, stating: ‘The application blends in with the town Conservation Area and will enhance the tourist offer.

‘It goes some way to offsetting the loss of hotel bed spaces elsewhere in the town. Although the loss of A1 retail space is noted, the building appears to have been unable to attract a new retail offer and members feel that the proposed use is more favourable than allowing possible deterioration of the fabric of the building.’

In the application put forward to PCNPA, the agent of the developers goes onto state with regards to the Grade II listed market hall building, which was constructed in 1829 with the first-floor town hall added in 1860-61: ‘The first-floor town hall has been vacant for several years and many of the rooms are now used as stock rooms for the retailers below.

‘The Market and Old Town Hall are owned by Pembrokeshire County Council and the applicant is in the process of negotiating a long-term lease for the first floor and small portion of the Market Hall’.

At their meeting last month, Tenby town councillors went onto back the revised application put forward for the hotel development, which now includes plans to incorporate part of the market hall building owned by Pembrokeshire Council.

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.

Despite no agreement as of yet being in place between PCC and the developers Bassett Crockford Holdings Ltd, when contacted by the Observer on the application, a spokesperson for the Local Authority 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.”

Listed Building plans for alterations to the Market Hall and Former Town Hall in tandem with change of use (with adjacent building) to Spa Hotel, Restaurant and Cafe/Bar (reference: NP/24/0672/LBA) are due to be discussed by members of Tenby Town Council at their meeting on Tuesday evening (February 11).

Further issues with the facility’s leaky roof saw county councillor for the south ward Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall hit out at the Local Authority over the festive period for ‘decades of neglect’ at the Hall that lies in the heart of the seaside town.

“I think people that know me are aware that I like to get things done rather than just moaning - however as a County Councillor, I find it so frustrating that so many of the problems that I encounter are the result of decades of neglect,” she stated.

“I am sad that Tenby’s Market full of fantastic traders, has yet again had water pouring through its leaking roof.

“People have talked and talked about how important a market is to Tenby but nothing has been done. There are hopes for the future but the roof is leaking now.

“The traders have been let down for too long. Years and years of pushing it under the carpet!” she added.

County councillor for the north ward Cllr Michael Williams had previously who had previously put forward a notice of motion to Pembrokeshire County Council for urgent attention to stop the Grade II-listed building from deteriorating further, calling for a full structural survey to be carried out, has remarked: “The building is a listed building of considerable historical significance in the town centre, which has sadly lacked investment over many years.

“There is an urgent need to address the deteriorating condition of this iconic building which has lacked any meaningful investment for many years.”

“Currently the roof leaks, with traders having to frequently mop up rainwater, and the existing roof ventilation does not work, meaning traders have to operate in extremes of temperature.”

After meeting with traders last month, calling for an urgent meeting with Pembrokeshire County Council’s CEO, Cllr Williams stated: “I requested a meeting with officers of PCC last year, which was declined. In my opinion it could only have helped if such a meeting had taken place.

“For the first time in many years we now see a number of successful small and medium enterprises providing a valued service to our community, and just imagine what could be created in this facility given some investment.

“The traders have made the commitment, isn’t it a pity that the Local Authority over many years has failed to do so.

“The priority must be to sustain Tenby’s market keeping it completely within the control of the Local Authority, with a shared management structure with the traders.

“It isn’t acceptable that any developer should in any way control the operation of the Market Hall, as it is at the core of our town, a listed building which has suffered for many years from neglect.

“It is interesting to witness the Local Authority investment in Cardigan market, and the question should be why couldn’t this have been achieved in Pembrokeshire?

“In conclusion it might be well to remember ‘Beware of a Greek bearing gifts’ - added Cllr Williams.