Fears are being raised over plans to site a takeaway food outlet in the former RNLI lifeboat house on Tenby Harbour.

The building by the Mayor’s Slip – which housed the town’s inshore lifeboat until its move to new premises on the Castle Beach three years ago – is the focus of a planning application to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.

The proposal by Ruby Goodrick of Narberth is for takeaway food to be sold from the building from 10 in the morning to 10 at night, seven days a week.

But it has come under fire from Tenby Civic Society and Tenby North county councillor Michael Williams.

Cllr Williams has written to the park authority saying: “To allow this development would do considerable damage to the historical environment of the harbour estate which is a Grade two listed building.”

He pointed out that this is the only area of the harbour where commercial fishing activities can be operated, and it is used by a number of commercial fishing vessels to land catches.

The building has been empty for the past three years since Tenby's inshore lifeboat moved to its new house on Castle Beach.The building has been empty for the past three years since Tenby's inshore lifeboat moved to its new house on Castle Beach. (Image: Gareth Davies Photography)

“The very nature of this work would be entirely incompatible with this proposal,” Cllr Williams added.

“My other concern is that a precedent might well be created opening up this priceless historical area to unacceptable and unsuitable commercial exploitation.”

The national park’s buildings conservation officer, Rob Scourfield,  voiced caution, and  said: “In terms of the impact on the character of Tenby conservation area, the use of the harbour area remains largely as a working place.

“Great care is needed not to introduce inappropriate commercial use or an unacceptable level of such, the harbour is already served by a kiosk selling hot drinks and small snacks.”

Tenby Civic Society reminded that one of the Local Development Plan policies is to preserve Tenby harbour as a ‘working harbour’.

"The proposal is commercial and would conflict with that, in a boat working area and would not add value to boat working,” commented Harry Gardiner, on behalf of the society. 

Cllr Williams added that he wished to ‘heartily endorse’ the society’s objections

The application will be considered by park planners at a later date.