4:08pm Thursday 24th April 2008
Over 150 years of history is currently crashing and crumbling to the ground in Tenby, as demoltion work begins on the town's Royal Gatehouse Hotel.
Left scarred and derelict by its devastating Easter Sunday fire, the historic seafront landmark will soon be no more, following last week's decision by Pembrokeshire County Council that it should be knocked down.
Demolition contractors moved in on Wednesday to begin the month-long job, with the aim of re-opening The Norton - one of only two main roads into the centre of Tenby - to traffic ahead of the Whitsun bank holiday weekend.
Traders who put together a 400-signature 'save the town, not the building' petition have welcomed the move, sanctioned by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.
Tenby Chamber of Trade vice-president, Chris Osborne, said: "There is general relief that the town's business community was listened to over the decision for demolition, to save Tenby's economy in preference to one building."
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