8:05am Saturday 24th May 2008
Criticism by heritage organisations of the demolition of Tenby's fire-damaged Royal Gatehouse Hotel has been defended this week by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.
Both the Victorian Society and the Georgian Group had called for the remains of the Grade II Listed structure to be restored and worked into a reconstruction and said they were deeply saddened' to see the hotel go.
The Victorian Society's conservation advisor, Heloise Brown, said: "With a growing drive for development in Tenby, it is vital that the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority ensures the town's heritage is adequately protected. The best regeneration schemes make the most of the buildings that shape the identity of a place and put it on the map. This is what Tenby deserves."
Discussions are due to take place between the authority and developers over the way forward for the seafront site.
The National Park's building conservation officer, Rob Scourfield, assured: "The authority will be anxious to ensure that the replacement buildings are of a high standard to enhance this area of Tenby, and, where possible, re-use salvaged parts of the Gatehouse to ensure redevelopment reflects the style of the original."
He emphasised that this was an exceptional situation that has required an exceptional solution' and pointed out that demolition was considered to be the only appropriate way to proceed because the building was beyond practical repair. Out of 40 rooms, only six were unaffected and only two main walls survived.
Mr Scourfield added: "The form and massing of these buildings, their facades, appropriate detailing and the contribution they made to the historic and architectural charm of Tenby can, of course, be fairly easily replicated in any redevelopment of the site."
The authority would, he emphasised, continue to keep building conservation a major priority in all 14 of its conservation areas - including Tenby.
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