An application for a new premises licence at Tenby Sailing Club was given the seal of approval by Pembrokeshire County Council's licensing sub-committee this week.

The matter was discussed at a meeting held at County Hall in Haverfordwest on Monday, with the applicants stating that the first floor of the facility located at Tenby harbour, wascurrently subject of a 'club premises certificate'.

According to the applicants, the application was submitted in order to allow licensable activities to take place on the ground floor as well as the first floor, and in addition for the premises to be open to the general public.

The second floor of the premises will be used for the consumption of alcohol.

Several letters objecting to the application had been received by the county council's licensing team, with members of Tenby Town Council also recently recommending refusal, with councillors stating their concerns over extended operating hours at the club, which they feared would cause late night noise disturbance for residents in that location.

"Although there is reference to prevention of noise towards the town side of the club through closing of interior and exterior doors, there is no evidence of how the premises intends to mitigate against noise pollution to the harbour side, particularly when it indicates that alcohol will be consumed on the outside balcony area," wrote the town clerk, Mr. Andrew Davies.

"While they claim that this side of the building is away from residential properties, we are aware that the natural amphitheatre created by the harbour environs allows noise from this area to be heard as far away as North Cliff," he continued.

The town council also stated that they felt that by allowing the sale of alcohol from the ground floor bar area for consumption off the premises in an undefined location from 11 am on occasions when the 'Summer Spectaculars' take place at the harbour (which have a licence to run from 3 to 10 pm), it could conflict with the mutually agreed way forward in relation to meeting the licensing objectives concerning public safety and prevention of nuisance during those events.

County councillor for Tenby Michael Williams had also written a letter of objection to the proposals, stating that the residential area surrounding Tenby harbour already suffered from "huge noise and disruption," particularly during the summer period, when events are held at the harbour.

"This change of licence will make the quality of their (residents) life considerably worse," he wrote, also expressing apprehension that encouraging any extension of alcohol sales at the harbour would give rise to concerns over public safety.

Members of the county council's licensing sub-committee agreed to approve the application, with the added condition that it would only be open to the public until 9 pm, after which the premises would remain open only to members and their bona fide guests.