Not slipping away: New future for old building (From Western Telegraph)

Not slipping away: New future for old building

6:16pm Wednesday 6th February 2008 in News

Tenby's old lifeboat station and slipway looks set to remain as a landmark in the resort, following a decision by the Welsh Assembly.

Local support for the demolition of the century-old structure has been over-ruled after the listed building application was called in.

The RNLI is now launching a marketing exercise in an attempt to find someone who could take over the old station, which costs the charity more than £6,000 a year just to maintain.

The building was declared surplus to requirements by the RNLI after Tenby gained its magnificent new £5.8million lifeboat house and Tamar class craft.

RNLI spokesman Danielle Rush said: "Contrary to some reports, we have not put the building up for sale, as it is actually owned by the Crown Estates.

"Obviously we do not want to incur the annual maintenance costs, so we are just about to appoint an agent who will work with us to extensively market the building.

"Hopefully, someone will come forward with an alternative use, although any proposal would have to meet with the approval of the Crown Estates and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority."

The park authority was in favour of demolition, and was supported by Tenby Civic Society, which felt leaving the building to decay would be "visually ugly, and damage the town's image".

But opposition came from the Ancient Monuments Society and the Victorian Society, who both called for the structure to be retained.

Jane Davidson, the Welsh Assembly minister for environment, sustainability and housing, who has decided not to grant permission for demolition, said that the building's loss would "cause considerable harm to the national heritage" and that its architectural detail, fittings and equipment were of architectural and historic interest.