Councillors in Tenby have recommended that an application to replace timber sash windows on the front elevation of a property on St. Mary’s Street with white Upvc, goes before Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’s planning committee to decide the outcome, as members said that they would continue to refuse the proposal.

Among planning applications considered by Tenby Town Council at a recent meeting was an application from Mr. D. C. Matthews, of Hillside, Llanedi Road, Pontardulais, for the replacement of timber sash windows in front elevation with white Upvc, at 1 St Mary’s Street, Tenby, which town councillors refused on the basis that the plans were not consistent with guidelines for properties within the conservation area and contrary to Policy 15d of the Local Development Plan.

Correspondence from National Park’s planning officer Rob Scourfied came before members of the town council at their meeting on Tuesday to explain that the application would now default to this month’s committee meeting, as the likely recommendation of officers was to be one of approval.

“The proposal complies with our Article 4 guidance to householders in that the house is effectively a new build (NP/164/93 confirming that the previous property was entirely reconstructed). In such cases ‘quality’ Upvc sashes are deemed acceptable,” explained Mr. Scourfield.

“I wonder if councillors were aware of the fact that the house is actually new, even though its looks traditional?” he added.

The town clerk, Andrew Davies, told councillors that it would appear that Upvc windows were permissible if a property had been completely rebuilt in the ’90s.

Clr. Mrs. Sue Lane pointed out that the South Beach restaurant facility was completely rebuilt too after the ’90s.

“Have they made up new rules? I think it would be wise for this to go before PCNPA’s planning committee so that we can make sure that everyone is coming from the same place, and that everyone is kept up to date on these new guidance rules,” she said.

Clr. Lawrence Blackhall agreed as it was a policy that the town council had not been made aware of before.