Fresh concerns have been raised about the structure of a prominent seafront hotel in Tenby, with fears that the building could pose a threat to public safety.

County councillor for Tenby’s North ward Cllr Michael Williams has contacted Local Authorities after concerns were brought to him over unsafe parts of the Royal Lion Hotel located on High Street/White Lion Street, that overlooks the seaside town’s North Beach.

Calling for the matter to be inspected as a matter of urgency, in his correspondence to Pembrokeshire County Council, Cllr Williams stated: “I’m concerned about public safety when they walk past the front of this building.

Royal Lion Hotel
Cllr Williams stated: “I’m concerned about public safety when they walk past the front of this building.” (Observer pic)

“The lower timber of the bay windows it totally rotten, and on the left side of the lower left bay window there is an alarming crack in the cement running vertically adjacent to the window. There is a genuine fear regarding the safety of the building.”

Concerns over the state of the exterior of the prominent seafront building have been ongoing for some years, and most recently, back in the summer of 2021, in response to complaints received, officers from Pembrokeshire County Council’s Public Protection Team made several visits to the Royal Lion, with ‘improvement notices’ subsequently served on the Hotel by the Authority.

Only at the start of last year, Tenby Town Council’s Deputy Mayor Cllr Charles Dale told his fellow councillors that he was concerned about the conditions of the windows at the premises, particularly as any future development no longer had planning permission, adding that he felt the windows were a danger to the public.

Royal Lion Hotel in Tenby
The Royal Lion Hotel in Tenby (Observer pic)

In response to Cllr Williams’ concerns, PCC’s Building Control Manager, Sam Goodwin said that the Local Authority currently have an ongoing dangerous structures notice in place, and they are monitoring the building under a section 77 notice.

He added that the building control department were also working closely with partners within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, due to the listed nature of the building to which inspections are to take place at the property in question.

The concerns could lead to PCNPA taking enforcement action, Cllr Williams was also told.