Companies that carry out work in Tenby before planning applications have been passed have been criticised by the town’s Mayor.

The matter was raised again at Tuesday night’s meeting of the town council, after an application for shopfront signage came before members, with their recommendations to be passed on to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority (PCNPA).

The Mayor, Clr. Laurence Blackhall, was critical of the fact that the Card Factory which had just opened on High Street had seemingly erected their new internally illuminated signage on the shop front before the application had even been approved.

“I’ve been critical of companies in the past who carry out work in the town before the planning application has been considered, and here we have another example!” he said, comparing it to the recent situation where the newly opened Co-op store on The Green had erected lighting outside the premises before the National Park authority had approved it.

“To have done the work before they have had the courtesy to listen to the views of the town council and PCNPA is just disgraceful,” continued Clr. Blackhall.

Clr. Mrs. Caroline Thomas said that such actions went against all planning policies, while Clr. Trevor Hallett called for the companies to comply with legislation.

“We need to write to the National Park and ask for an enforcement officer to go to the premises to turn the lights off and also write to the Card Factory’s chief executive to ask them too!” suggested Clr. Blackhall.

The town clerk, Andrew Davies, pointed out that a PCNPA enforcement officer had recently been in Tenby as they had pointed out their disapproval of the ‘graffiti mural’ at the Jubilee Play Park, which they said looked ‘garish’ when looking up at it from the South Beach.

“I did point out that it had been there for four years!” remarked Mr. Davies.

“I’m delighted an enforcement officer from PCNPA has been in the town, maybe next time we can show them some of the areas that we believe actually need enforcement where no action has been taken!” added Clr. Blackhall