The developers behind a project to re-establish a Tenby landmark as a visitor attraction have confirmed that the Island and fort will once again close it’s gates to the public, as the scheme faces an uncertain future.

Situated at Castle Beach, St Catherine’s Island which has effectively stood empty since it was a zoo in the late 70s, has been subject to a project to redevelop the site since 2012, with Peter Prosser and the team behind the Tenby Island Project managing to open parts of the island to the public over this period.

A planning application for a change of use of the fort and island to a visitor attraction, including the provision of new buildings to provide supporting facilities/services, and the improvement of access to and on the island, was granted approval by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, in July of last year, subject to some 16 planning conditions, 14 of which were disputed by the developers.

Despite winning an appeal to the Welsh Assembly Government earlier this year against the planning conditions imposed on the project following a public inquiry hearing, it is believed that stringent variations on these conditions introduced by the Planning Inspectorate, may have effectively set the project back.

A post on the Tenby Island Project’s Facebook page has stated that the final day of the Island’s opening to the public will be Saturday, August 27.

“This important post is neither something we could have predicted or could have foreseen in the last five years of working towards releasing the Islands potential. It has now been confirmed that the Island and fort will once again close it’s gate to the public, as it unfortunately faces an uncertain future,” read the post.

“All the team here on the Island thank you all for your support that you have shown and appreciate this may come as shocking news but please be aware we can not be drawn further on the subject until the official announcement has been made. We simply wish to provide as much warning as possible for those who wish to visit the Island prior to the gates close once again,” continued the post, explaining that an official statement is due to be made some time this week.

St Catherine’s Island was recently used for key scenes shot for the latest season of the BBC’s award winning Sherlock series, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, due to be screened in the New Year.