A national pizza chain has won its appeal to open a a restaurant and takeaway in Tenby.

The application from Domino’s UK for a change of use from Class A1 (retail) to Class A3 (hot food takeaway) use, at the newly-built units along the South Parade, was turned down by members of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’s development management committee at a meeting in August.

However, the applicants lodged an appeal against the decision, and following an ‘informal hearing’ and site visit held in December, planning inspectorate Nicola Gulley appointed by Welsh Ministers, allowed the appeal.

In delivering her verdict, Ms Gulley said that conditions in relation to the management of the ventilation and extraction equipment, noise mitigation measures and hours of operation are necessary in the interests of residential amenity.

A ‘code of conduct’ for delivery drivers requiring that they park in the town’s multi-storey car park at all times will also be implemented according to the planning inspector, after planning committee members of PCNPA agreed with local councillors and the Tenby Chamber of Trade and Tourism over their concerns with regard to allowing the unit to trade from a location along a one-way system, with double yellow lines on both sides of the street, a bus stop, and also the fire station entrance nearby, as they felt that a business offering home delivered food with delivery vehicles would affect traffic flow along the South Parade.

Concerns were also raised regarding noise disturbance issues for residents living above the unit and nearby,a nd the fact that the food outlet would be situated in front of the town’s War Memorial.

“With regard to customer parking, although I note the Authority’s concerns I am mindful that the appeal premises is within short walking distance of a number of public car parks. In view of this I consider that adequate opportunity exists for customer parking and that the proposal would not give rise to sort-term illegal and indiscriminate parking,” explained Ms Gulley in her report.

The store will be closed to members of the public at 10 pm from Sunday to Thursday, and 11 pm on a Friday and Saturday, whilst orders for delivery over the phone will be permitted between 10 pm and midnight, Sunday to Thursday, and 11 pm to midnight, on a Friday and Saturday.

Reacting to the decision county councillor Michael Williams who represents Tenby’s North Ward and is also the deputy chairman of PCNPA’s development management committee, commented that it was an ‘extremely disappointing decision’.

“The Inspector appears to have totally failed the nearby residents, in particular the failure to adequately restrict the opening hours of this business,” he said.

“In my view there will be inevitable disturbance to those who reside in the area. Restrictions on opening hours were imposed on a nearby business and I did hope that this might have set a precedent. This does not appear to be the case.

“I also have concerns regarding highway use. The footpath outside is already damaged by irresponsible motorists parking there.

“This development will inevitably exasperate the situation. I did hope that Pembrokeshire County Council’s highways department might raise objections, but they failed to do so.

“I intend to ask PCC, again, to place bollards on the footpath in an attempt to protect not only the footpath but also the pedestrians.

“I do understand that the Inspector has to abide by Welsh Government Technical Advice Notes, when determining planning appeals, and I had hoped that they would recognise that these are indeed ‘Advice notes’ - and in this case the concerns of local residents and elected members has been ignored,” added Clr. Williams.

Discussing the appeal outcome at Tuesday night’s meeting of Tenby town council, Clr. Mrs. Tish Rossiter said that the decision was ‘absolutely ridiculous’.

“I too would question the decision by PCC’s highways department and the effect this will have on a busy area into Tenby. This decision comes from someone who doesn’t know the town 24/7.

“It’s a main road in and out of the town, with a fire station along the way, any hold ups to the fire engine caused by those stopping to pull up, could virtually be a matter of life or death!” she said.

Clr. Laurence Blackhall who attended the planning inspectorate’s informal hearing, said that when it was read out that a traffic survey for Tenby had been carried out in the month of November, and not during peak summer season, but applied to the town all year round as a case in point, people at the hearing laughed out loud!

“The planning inspector has failed to understand the town in my opinion. It is a bizarre judgement!” he remarked.

Clr. Trevor Hallett told his colleagues that he would ‘eat his hat’ if he saw the delivery drivers abiding by the regulations set out, walking back and forth from the multi-storey for every pick-up during the summer season.

“I hope PCNPA are ready to enforce these conditions, and we shoiuld write to them to say how surprised we are by the inspector’s decision,” continued Clr. Blackhall.

“I’d also suggest that we write to perhaps PCC’s highways department to ask them to look at plans such as this with a little more rigour as well, in light of this and also the recent development that was approved for the new units at The Green in Tenby,” he added.