Members of Tenby Civic Society have given their views on controversial plans by a national fastfood chain to open an outlet next to the town’s war memorial.

Members of Tenby Town Council recently delivered an angry response to a planning application which came before them from pizza chain Domino’s, to site an outlet on the South Parade, next to the town’s cenotaph, labelling the proposal as ‘disrespectful’, before unanimously recommending refusal to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority (PCNPA).

The application is for a change of use from Class A1 (retail) to Class A3 (hot food takeaway) use, including ancillary seating at the newly built units along South Parade. Part of the plans also include an application for a fascia sign and a projecting sign, for the premises.

Tenby Civic Society’s planning sub-committee have discussed the proposal several times and remain opposed to the current proposals, but have indicated several ways a resolution might be achieved.

“The internally illuminated signs should be refused, as all others have in Tenby centre because those signs conflict with its historic and heritage character,” said Harry Gardiner, the chair of the Civic Society’s planning sub-committee.

“The fascia signs are also too large; satisfactory smaller signs would be more discrete near or facing the War Memorial and cheaper. The application appears incomplete as detailed plans of the signage facing onto the Memorial Garden have not been added or circulated. The hanging signs proposed are fine, modest and in line with many others in the town,” he continued.

Mr. Gardiner explained that the ‘change of use’ application would remove retail floor space from the centre, and go against the percentage of retail Local Development Plan targets for Tenby.

“Change from retail to restaurant increases the nuisance to residents above and near the premises, through fumes, noise, take away parking, especially so in the evening,” he explained.

“A recent planning application refusal and planning appeal refusal just across the road prevented a takeaway use after 8.30 pm because of material nuisance through noise etc. to neighbouring residents; the same reasons apply in this case, too, so any use would have to be conditioned to stop at that time.

“Most of the issues except hours of operation after 8.30 pm appear resolvable, but the detached and unresponsive position of the applicant and insensitive signage is not promising.

“The applications have missing detail, and letters to the company have had no reply; the internally illuminating sign proposed facing onto the War Memorial is more than symbolic,” he added.

Members of PCNPA’s planning committee are set to determine the plans over the next few weeks.