1 week Ago By Paul Evans
Applicants looking to situate a ‘community cash pod’ on land opposite Tenby’s historic town walls have seen their appeal against a decision to refuse the plans, turned down by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. The application (Ref: NP/24/0204/FUL) by Miss Elisabeth Pywell of HSBC for the erection of a cash pod on land in the north-east corner of the Five Arches Car Park, was refused last year by PCNPA, with the Local Planning Authority, believing that it would be ‘inappropriate’ in terms of its siting and design, resulting in harm being caused to the setting of a Scheduled Ancient Monument (Tenby Town Walls) and the Grade II listed building Holyrood and St. Teilo’s Church.
“The proposal neither enhances or preserves Tenby's Conservation Area and is considered to have an adverse impact on its appearance,” stated PCNPA. It was hoped that the ‘cash pod’ would go someway to alleviating the seaside town’s cash-point crisis, with the last bank [HSBC] closing last summer, leaving only two ATM machines remaining. An appeal launched agains the decision has now been dismissed by L.
Hughson-Smith LLB MSc MRTPI - a planning inspector appointed by Welsh Ministers. The inspector acknowledged that the pod would offer 24/7 enhanced banking facilities which would benefit the community and make some economic contribution; but felt that its ‘utilitarian’ appearance would be ‘unsympathetic’ on the streetscene. “Due to its design, position and orientation, the ‘community cash pod’ would be a prominent and unsympathetic structure that would be particularly noticeable from the seafront approach and partially obscure views of the Church,” stated the inspector in their report dismissing the appeal.
“It would make a negative contribution to the setting of the Church and Town Walls, causing harm to their significance, and fail to preserve the character and appearance of the Conservation Area.”.
