Councillors in Tenby have deferred a planning application for a town centre bakery, as they are seeking more information on the proposals.

Plans from Greggs PLC came before members of Tenby Town Council at their meeting on Tuesday, with the application setting out proposals for the premises to relocate to the former Lloyds bank building on Tudor Square.

The initial plans to come before councillors, whose recommendations are to be passed on to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, were concerning a new hardwood shop front and replacement units; along with a new fascia sign and hanging sign.

When discussing the matter, Clr. Mrs. Sue Lane asked if there had been a ‘change of use’ application submitted by the company, and the town clerk explained that he had queried this matter with the the National Park Authority, but had yet to be given a definitive answer on the change of use classes that this could come under.

“These applications at the moment only relate to the new shop front and signage,” he explained.

Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown said that she had noticed that the majority of Greggs bakeries in Cardiff now had a cafe facility.

“It is a wrong that they seem to be applying for this first, and then will it be a case of something else going through smoothly after! Surely they need an A3 ‘change of use’ if it is going to end up being a cafe?” she said.

Clr. Paul Rapi said that he hoped that the signage would be ‘sympathetic’ to Tenby’s townscape.

“We had a lot of controversy back in 2013 when they opened, as they wanted their bright blue and orange signage, but we managed to persuade them to tone it down.

“So if they think they can bulldoze their way through with these applications, then they seem to have forgotten that,” he remarked.

Clr. Rapi said that he had seen an image of a Greggs store in Bury St. Edmunds which had a shop front and signage more in keeping with what was suitable in Tenby.

“If they can achieve it in that town, then they can achieve it in Tenby. I suggest we object quite strongly to these plans until we have some confirmation of the full application, and that they are appropriate for Tudor Square,” added Clr. Rapi.

Clr. Will Rossiter said that he’d love to see the premises altered by anyone in the town, as it was a minimalist building, and went with nothing else in the High Street.

“There have been a number of instances where large companies have forgotten the need to make local connections, but those that have, have done very well,” added the Mayor, Clr. Laurence Blackhall, with all members agreeing to defer the plans.