Pembrokeshire County Council should take the lead in the decision on whether Tenby’s Royal Gatehouse Hotel site should be the subject of compulsory purchase.

That’s the opinion of both County Councillor Michael Williams and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.

The seafront hotel was partially demolished following last Easter’s devastating fire, and owner Graham Fry has now been given until March to remove the rubble from the site.

But in the meantime, the area presents a ‘a scene of devastation’, Councillor Williams has told the county council.

He has told council leader Councillor John Davies: “The county council, which is seen locally as doing nothing, must act if the business fabric of Tenby is to survive.”

When Cllr Williams recently asked the county council to investigate the possible compulsory purchase of the site, he was told by Cllr Davies that it was a matter for the national park authority, as the relevant planning authority.

After the statement was queried, Cllr Davies replied: “I have every sympathy with the townspeople and traders of Tenby with the situation in which they find themselves, but it is up to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority as a planning authority to take the steps it deems appropriate.”

However, the park authority has now pointed out that while it can exercise compulsory purchase powers for planning purposes, the county council should take the lead where the issue concerned is the economic wellbeing of the area.

Authority chairman, Councillor Simon Hancock said: “The issue here is not that the national park authority does not have compulsory purchase powers, but that the county council also has such powers and in this instance the county council is the most appropriate authority to exercise them.

“The national park authority and the county council have taken a joint approach — working closely together — over the Gatehouse to date, and the authority is keen to ensure this positive partnership continues.

“Discussions around the future of the site are on-going between officers of both authorities and the park authority remains very willing to work with the county council to resolve this particular situation should the need arise.”