Councillors in Tenby have criticised a local convenience store for ‘inconvenient’ plans which have seen the premises’ signage lighting labelled as intrusive to neighbouring properties.

A retrospective planning application from the Co-operative Food Store located at The Green came before members of Tenby Town Council at their meeting on Tuesday night, with the company submitting plans to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority for one internally illuminated Co-op projector, one set non-illuminated ‘Welcome To’ text, and two non-illuminated Co-op logos.

In the past, members of the town council recommended refusal of a similar planning application at the Co-op, which opened last year, stating that they had concerns that lighting at the store appeared to have been erected outside the premises, before the application had even been determined.

At the time, councillors stated that the ‘bright lights’ were causing a problem for people living in that area, and that the lighting was even coming through residents’ curtains!

Speaking at Tuesday night’s meeting of the town council, Clr. Mrs. Tish Rossiter said that she was unhappy that the store appeared to have erected their signage before the planning application had been passed once again.

“The Co-op have pushed the boundaries all along with their planning. We should refuse this and they should be made to take it down!

“They must have been well aware of the rules in Tenby not to allow illuminated signage for premises in the town before they bought the building,” she added, with her colleague Clr. Laurence Blackhall agreeing.

“You would expect more from a big company,” he said. “They need to stop putting up illuminated lighting, as it’s overtly bright and intrusive to neighbouring properties.

“If they want to get people to notice the store, then they don’t need extra signage, as most get stuck in the traffic long enough outside the premises to see it!

“When this application came about, we raised concerns about the entrance to the store, and we were given assurances by the planning authorities that a traffic management survey had been carried out and it wouldn’t lead to congestion and disruption in that area.

“We were also given assurances that the Co-op’s delivery lorries would come at 7 am in the morning and at 7 pm at night, but they don’t, they come at all times of the day!

“Maybe if they’ve got the money for new signage, they’d be better off spending it on improving the entrance,” added Clr. Blackhall.

Members of the town council also recently voiced their concerns over plans to introduce more retail units to the site at The Green, after an application was submitted to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, for a change of use, extensions and alterations to provide two retail units on ground floor and holiday let apartment above with associated six new roof windows at the former Royal Mail Garage building.

They stated that they were concerned about ‘over development’ along that busy route in and out of the town, and deferred making a decision on the application, asking for another traffic survey to be carried out before passing judgement.

Councillors agreed to recommend refusal for the Co-op application and their views will be passed on to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.