Councillors in Tenby have once again voiced their concerns over the planning authority’s failure to set out a clear policy on retrospective applications in Pembrokeshire.

In recent times, Tenby Town Council members have asked that stricter rules regarding retrospective planning works in Tenby be applied, calling for Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority to take stronger action in certain cases, as more and more examples seemed to be cropping up across the town.

However, councillors were informed by PCNPA’s director of park direction and planning that the authority could not fine anybody for retrospective planning work, as it was not illegal.

Speaking at Tuesday night’s meeting of the town council, Clr. Trevor Hallett raised the matter again, stating that retrospective applications were still causing him ‘great concern’.

“Rightly or wrongly, there needs to be a clear policy from the planning authorities, and guidelines in place.

“I feel neither Pembrokeshire County Council nor the National Parks currently has a policy that covers this aspect. We’ve asked for years, but have just had to put up with it.

“However, its happening far too often in our town now, and we as a town council get it in the neck from the people on the street.

“There needs to be a penalty introduced for those that put forward retrospective plans,” he added.

The town clerk, Andrew Daves, said that PCNPA had admitted that to issue penalties the matter would require legislation, but that anybody submitting a retrospective application, was effectively ‘taking a gamble’.

Deputy Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown said that it seemed to be the ‘luck of the draw’ as to whether retrospective plans were passed.

Clr. Laurence Blackhall said that there seemed to be two categories with those that put in retrospective applications as an oversight as they weren’t aware that they were required and others that ignored the process and attempted to circumnavigate the rules, before recommending that the town council write to local Assembly Members to ask for their views on whether greater enforcement should be given in the future to crackdown on such retrospective applications.