PLANS to expand the facilities offered by a Pembrokeshire seaside town pub, which was once a toyshop, have been approved by the national park despite concerns raised by the local civic society.

In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, The Old Town Crier Pub Ltd, through agent Argent Architects, sought permission for the installation of a retractable canopy to rear courtyard of The Town Crier Pub, 3-4 Upper Frog Street, Tenby.

A supporting statement said the scheme for the pub, in Tenby town centre, with a rear boundary on the town’s Grade-I-listed 13th century town wall, “makes a positive contribution to the site, adding an elegant structure, which remains sensitive to the host building and the historic town wall”.

The application added: “The proposals are limited to the private realm of the premises’ courtyard, and do not touch the town wall.  The experience of the town wall from the public realm will remain unchanged.  There is no perceived impact on the historic town wall arising from the proposals.”

The application was supported by Tenby Town Council, but Tenby Civic Society raised concerns about the potential impact on the nearby town walls.

It added: “We regret having to put these views as on balance the modern scheme built on this site has a lot of virtues, one of which has been to open up views and appreciation of the inside of the Town walls to the public as customers.

“The application presents no justification for the impact on the inside of the town walls, and the proposal would in our view diminish the significance and appreciation of the inside of the town walls.”

An officer report recommending approval noted the concerns, pointing out the civic society was not a statutory consultee.

It added: “Whilst in very close proximity to the town walls, the proposed canopy is not readily visible from the public realm, the existing courtyard connecting to the highway only via a pedestrian door, this offering limited views into the site. In terms of overall impact on the special qualities of the National Park, the proposal is considered acceptable.”

The Upper Frog Street site of the Town Crier was formerly the Clarice Toys toy and novelty shop, and is called the Town Crier in tribute to the late John ‘Yobbler’ Thomas, a former proprietor of the shop and a former town crier of Tenby.

John Thomas served as Tenby’s town crier for more than 30 years, and was responsible for bringing four national crier contests to Tenby.

John and wife Caroline, who would become a councillor and serve as mayor in the town, set up Clarice Toys in Tenby’s Upper Frog Street after their marriage in 1961, with the business being later run by their son and daughter, Ian and Kerri.

RESIDENTS and visitors are invited to uncover the stories of one of Wales’ most fascinating ancient landscapes at Discovering the Golden Road, a special event taking place on Saturday 18 April at Tafarn Sinc.

The afternoon begins with a two-hour guided walk through the spectacular Preseli Hills, led by Tomos Jones, Community Archaeologist at the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority. Participants will explore the rich archaeological heritage of the area and discover the history of the Golden Road, a prehistoric trackway believed to have been used for thousands of years, linking ceremonial sites and communities across the landscape.

After the walk, guests will return to Tafarn Sinc for an informal Q&A session with Tomos, offering time to reflect on the landscape, delve deeper into its stories, and continue the conversation in a relaxed setting.

Katie Macro, Charity Director of the Pembrokeshire Coast Charitable Trust, said: “The Golden Road is one of Pembrokeshire’s most iconic ancient routes, and events like this help people connect more deeply with the landscape around them. By supporting experiences that celebrate our heritage, we’re also raising vital funds to protect the special places that make the National Park so unique for future generations.”

Jennifer Wheeler, Founder of Golden Road Gin, said: “What a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the Preseli Hills and the Golden Road. There is so much nature and history to uncover, and it’s wonderful to discover it with a real expert. We’re incredibly proud to partner with the amazing work of the Pembrokeshire Coast Charitable Trust to help conserve our heritage and nature. We can’t wait for this event and will be offering gin tasting following the walk and talk.”

The event is delivered in partnership with Golden Road Gin, with thanks to Jen and Phil for their generous support. The company donates 10p from every bottle sold online to the Pembrokeshire Coast Charitable Trust, helping to fund conservation and heritage projects across the National Park.

Lunch will be available to purchase on the day.

Discovering the Golden Road will take place on Saturday 18 April at Tafarn Sinc, Rosebush. Tickets cost £15 and can be booked online at https://pembrokeshirecoast.enthuse.com/DiscoveringtheGoldenRoad#!/.

For accessibility information, please contact Abi Marriott at [email protected].

AN EMERGENCY call for councillors to fight a “total failure of the people of Pembrokeshire” downgrading of services at Withybush hospital has been backed.

At the March meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, an emergency notice of motion by the council’s 11-strong Conservative Party group demanded that the Welsh Government immediately reverses the decision to cease emergency general surgery at Withybush Hospital.

Last year, Hywel Dda University Health Board consulted with its communities on options for change in critical care, dermatology, emergency general surgery, endoscopy, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, stroke, radiology and urology.

At a recent two-day meeting, the board, amongst its many other decisions, backed changes into emergency general surgery which will see no emergency general surgery operations taking place at Withybush, but a strengthening of the same-day emergency care (SDEC).

At the March council meeting, the Conservative council group, led by Cllr Di Clements, proposed a motion which read: “This council requests that the Labour Welsh Government intervenes in Hywel Dda University Health Board’s recent decision to cease emergency general surgery at Withybush hospital and immediately reverses their decision.

“We believe removing this service critically undermines the sustainability of Withybush hospital’s A&E department.

“Also, the decision by the Health Board does not take into account the impact and potential serious risks it will have on Pembrokeshire residents.”

Cllr Clements’ supporting statement, which included a call for Leader Cllr Jon Harvery to write to the First Minister and Welsh Government, said Pembrokeshire residents “have seen continual downgrading of services over the years, and this has been detrimental to all residents,” adding: “We believe this recent decision is life threatening to those who need emergency surgery and a matter of resident’s safety.”

At the meeting, Cllr Michael John said “there had been an erosion of services for many years,” supporting Cllr Clements’ call, but proposing the addition of calling on the health board to meet with councillors.

Newly-elected Fishguard county councillor Billy Shaw, himself a former biomedical scientist who had worked at Withybush, said the service under Hywel Dda University Health Board had become “Carmarthenshire-centred”.

Following the request by Cllr Clements, Leader Cllr Jon Harvey agreed to any letter writing, saying he had “fought long and hard to return services to Withybush”.

He gave the personal example of an operation he had over a decade ago at Withybush, saying if he had had to travel to Glangwili he had been told he “wouldn’t be here today, as simple as that”.

“There’s been an erosion of services year-on-year, it’s just not acceptable.

He finished: “It’s important we show the health board and Welsh Government we care for our residents.”

Cllr Rhys Jordan said: “It’s a total failure of the people of Pembrokeshire, Hywel Dda has taken emergency services away Pembrokeshire and once again it will be the people of Pembrokeshire that pay the price; it’s our families, our neighbours, our elderly and children.”

He added: “What does that say about how we are managed? Pembrokeshire can be managed with less, that we should be grateful for less; Pembrokeshire is not a second-class Wales.

“This decision must be reversed. Pembrokeshire deserves better than being failed again and again.”

Members backed Cllr Clements’ call, with Cllr John’s amendment added.

Welsh Labour has said that, if it wins the May Senedd lections, it will commit to a new multi-billion-pound west Wales hospital, a proposal described as a “pre-election distraction” by Conservatives.

The long-mooted hospital plan, previously proposed in St Clears and Whitland locations, was put on hold by the health board for financial reasons.