The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’s planning committee have overwhelmingly refused permission for a new balcony to be built at a premises which sits alongside a church in Tenby.

The application submitted by Mrs. L. Middleton to demolish an existing lean-to study and external WC and to construct a single storey flat roof rear extension with balcony at Walmer House, located next to Deer Park Baptist Church on Greenhill Road, was denied planning permission as the authority’s development management committee deemed it would be too intrusive.

Policy 30 (d) of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park states that development cannot take place if it is visually intrusive.

Speaking against the development at last week’s meeting of PCNPA’s planning committee, Dave Killiard from the Baptist Church argued that the structure would have led to a loss of light in the community room.

The development management committee then heard that 16 objections had been raised with regards to the safeguarding of children using the community room.

Mr. Killiard mentioned how people could have a direct view of the hall, as the balcony would have had a total encroachment height of five metres above the external floor of the church.

He also had concerns that activities in the hall could be affected due to noise from the balcony.

The planning officer’s conclusion supported this claim suggesting that the external terrance area above the extension would allow people to have a good view of the hall.

Architect Ken Morgan, the agent speaking on behalf of the applicant, argued that the authority’s height measurements were wrong.

Mr. Morgan told the meeting that his client had met the policies of the development committee in the planning application.

However, following the conclusion of the debate, the committee voted heavily against the proposal.