Tenby Shops Face Threat Amid Market Hall Redevelopment Concerns

Tenby’s Chamber of Trade is worried and wants to protect shops in Tenby. They wrote to local councillors about this issue. The Chamber wants to keep Tenby thriving, which benefits both locals and tourists.

Tenby Civic Society shares these worries. They want Pembrokeshire Council to give information regarding the Market Hall’s future, seeking “decisive” clarity.

The Chamber spoke with traders from the Market Hall, which belongs to Pembrokeshire Council. They worry about the Market’s future. A developer wants to change TP Hughes store into a hotel with a restaurant and now wants part of the Market Hall also.

Developers want to build a spa hotel called 1838, which would have a gym and a spa. The spa would include treatment rooms, hot tubs, and steam rooms.

Anna Bolton, who runs Charlton Cards on High Street, wrote to the Town Council for the Chamber. She expressed the Chamber’s High Street concerns.

Tenby’s High Street has lovely shops and great places to eat. The Chamber knows they must work hard to keep Tenby lively for locals and tourists.

Tenby lost a retail space recently, which became an office. The TP Hughes space is also now gone. The Chamber shares worries of Market Hall traders who pay rent to the County Council.

The hotel may take part of the Market Hall, and the traders seem to be the last to know. Plans about the Market are not shared, and the Market is in disrepair. Authorities have not addressed this issue, and the Chamber strongly feels the market should stay retail.

The Chamber asked about the Town Council’s plans and what they will do to keep retail on High Street. They inquired about what reassurance can they give the market traders and how to keep needed retail in Tenby.

The Chamber says other towns lost retail, and Tenby needs attention to avoid that fate. Tenby must ensure this never happens here, and they all need to work together.

Tenby Civic Society wrote to the National Park, sharing views on a hotel planning application. This application might include part of the Market Hall.

Harry Gardiner said the Society wants the Market to stay. He noted Tenby’s history and character, emphasizing the need for a County Market future statement.

Gardiner noted roof repairs are for the Town Hall’s roof, while the market roof needs repair as it is in poor condition. He said spa work will disrupt the traders and continued that construction protection will be required, requiring the County’s help to relocate stalls temporarily.

He said reports don’t value the Market enough, and retail retention would add planning value. The County needs to commit to the roof repair, modernize, and provide space for traders during repairs. Not doing this could damage the Market.

Gardiner added the plans retain Town Hall stairs. The ground floor market layout has inaccurate changes. The hotel cafe toilet could impact the market cafe’s kitchen, and false ceiling details are missing from the plans, he noted.

He suggested a market toilet could connect to the hotel’s kitchen. The spa extension’s position needs to be clearer, he pointed out, as it is near Eric Bradforth’s Tenby mural.

Traders fear the market could close, as no one offered them alternative plans. Traders criticized the County Council, saying they were not informed and slamming the council for lack of planning.

One trader spoke for others in the Market, saying new plans may take away storage rooms. They fear spa construction would happen within the Market, resulting in them being forced to leave during construction.

The trader said they spoke to Lewis Hinds, who works for Pembrokeshire Council. He stated Hinds has yet to propose ideas.

The new plans remodel the Town Hall, where the gym and the spa will reside with a planned link to the hotel, on the first floor.

Two buildings sit across from each other with retail frontages on Frog Street and High Street. An Edwardian bridge links the structures.

The developer’s planning consultant seeks retail loss validation. Evidence suggests the property’s change to non-retail use. The consultant’s report presented this conclusion.

The report is supported by the estate agent’s marketing. The property went unsold for fifteen months, and the agent said its size limits retail use.

The agent’s findings align with a retail study, the South Wales Regional Retail Study of 2017. Two retailers left the property in ten years, and online retail growth poses significant challenges.

They conclude there is sufficient mitigating evidence, which overcomes the conflict with policy. This policy involves retail space loss.

The council was in discussions in November, involving the hotel developers next door. This discussion was related to improvements and maintenance.

Pembrokeshire Council maintains the market but faces criticism for no investment. They have neglected the Grade II building.

Tenby Town Council backed the hotel’s initial plans, transforming a retail store into a hotel and restaurant. Town councillors recommended plan approval.

The plans blend with the conservation area and enhance the tourist offer, it was stated. Loss of hotel bed spaces is offset elsewhere, and it appears that there is no new retail interested; the hotel may improve the building.

Tenby councillors also backed the revised hotel. The revised application now includes the market, and the refurbishment of the market is potentially integrated.

The Town Council recommended approval, provided existing market operations have protection. Illumination into the market must reach appropriate levels, and Pembrokeshire Council will need to agree to an action plan.

Pembrokeshire Council said they are in discussion with the former TP Hughes owners, considering changes to the Market building. They say it could improve the Market, but commercial terms will need agreement.

A comprehensive redevelopment is complex, and the traders’ concerns factor into this. The Council says no exact proposal exists, and they remain at the option appraisal stage.

The Council met with the Market traders, involving a Deputy Leader and the Local Member. The Council said details need agreement, and traders will have consultation about the details.

Issues with the leaky roof were present. Councillor Skyrme-Blackhall criticized the Local Authority, mentioning “decades of neglect” at the Hall.

Councillor Skyrme-Blackhall said it’s from past failures, adding traders have waited for too long.

She stated Tenby’s Market has fantastic traders; water again poured through its leaking roof. The roof is leaking now, she confirmed.

Councillor Michael Williams wants urgent change. He wants to stop the building’s degradation, specifying this listed building needs a full study.

He said the building has historical importance. It sadly lacked investment for many years, and it urgently needs an address to this issue.

He said the roof leaks badly, and traders must mop up rainwater. The roof also lacks ventilation, and traders operate in extreme temperatures.

Cefin Campbell visited the market. He met with stallholders about concerns and requested a meeting with the County Council’s CEO.

Councillor Williams requested the meeting last year. Williams thinks it would have been useful and expressed his disappointment.

He said there are successful businesses now. He asked to imagine what could be created, stating investment could greatly help in the facility.

He stated traders are committed to Tenby, adding the Local Authority has failed them.

The priority must be to sustain the Market. The Local Authority must control this, and traders should take part in market management.

He said no developer should control the Market, which is a building at the core of Tenby. It has suffered from neglect for years.

He spoke about Cardigan market’s investment, asking why could not it happen here. Finally, he added, “Beware of Greeks bearing gifts”.