Meeting held at the de Valence on Tuesday 1^st April 2008 re:Gatehouse Hotel fire

In attendance were Mr Richard Brown, Civil Contingencies Manager, Pembrokeshire County Council

Mr Mike Neal, Hedley Davies Insurance

Cathy Milner, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority

Mr Andrew Davies, Town Clerk, Tenby Town Council

Local town and county councillors and other officers were also present.

The vice president of the Chamber of Trade & Tourism, Mr Chris Osborne chaired the meeting.

Gatehouse site

CO asked Mr Brown to relay to the audience the current situation with regard to the site of the Gatehouse Hotel destroyed by fire on Easter Sunday 23^rd March.

The site had been in the hands of the local police as a crime scene until the end of last week (28/3/08) when PCC took control to safeguard the site. Gas engineers have been called in to isolate a number of gas leaks as a result of the fire. Demolition experts have been called in to clear the debris and whilst this continues there will be no access on health and safety grounds. The cellars under the Gatehouse are dry and there appears to be no water damage.

Under Section 78 of the Building Act, Mr Fry, owner of the hotel, has to make the building safe and the report from the structural engineers site visit will be known by the end of the week.

Once the results are known PCC and PCNPA can discuss the future of the site with the owner.

PCC's main aim now is to re-open the Norton, even if it’s single lane traffic, but the building has to be safe.

A walkway on the North walk has re-opened but this may be closed from time to time, for safety reasons, to allow works on the site above.

A protected walkway has been opened to allow access to the businesses at the top of Upper Frog Street and White Lion Street.

A shuttle delivery service has been set up at The Salterns for large vehicles to transfer their goods to small vans, the largest vehicles that can access the walled town through Belmont Arch. Lower Frog Street has become two way for this period.

Insurance

Mr Mike Neal gave advice on the course of action to take. The business community should be able to claim on their insurance for loss of gross profit (not income) as a result of denial of access (possibly stated in policy as “damage to buildings in vicinity of business”).

Compare takings for Easter Saturday/Easter Sunday: also take into account the weather; school holidays etc. because at some stage in the claim process proof of loss will have to be shown. The evacuation costs to private householders should be covered by their insurance. Businesses were urged to contact their insurers for further help or enquiries.

The chair then invited any questions from the audience

PCNPA and PCC were asked if they would commission their own survey. A meeting had taken

place between Mr Fry and representatives of various agencies and it was decided it would be a

waste of money if all agencies hired their own surveyor when the firm employed were a

reputable structural engineering company. The Gatehouse is a listed building and if the report

states it is viable to make it safe then PCNPA will expect it to be made safe and they will not

delay any decision relating to the site.

The “Road Closed” sign at the top of Narberth Road was deterring visitors from travelling

towards the car park, businesses along the route, the Croft and Northcliffe and needed to be

changed. Mr Brown stated that as from 1^st April they would be changing but any suggestions

from those affected were welcomed.

The question of illegal parking was also raised and it was stressed that all traffic restrictions

must be enforced at all times, particularly on the Norton, outside the market and Tudor

Square. A traffic warden presence was needed at all times. The police would be attending the

council meeting on 1^st April to discuss/solve the problem.

PCC hope to open the Norton in 2 weeks time possibly with scaffolding around the derelict

building and, before then, with pedestrian access on the seaward side .

Were the costs incurred being paid for by the ratepayer? PCC would cover the

work carried out by their employees and the demolition works would be the responsibility of the

owner, Mr Fry. Recompense for all of PCC’s costs would be sought in due course from the insurers of the site.

the streets being used for access within the town walls - to help ease the flow of traffic all

resident parking permit holders were asked to park in the multi-storey, free of charge, ensuring

their permit was on display on the windscreen.

Would there be any rate relief? Councillor Michael Evans stated that forms are available form

the town clerk in the de Valence for anyone who wished to claim.

Is the shuttle service working and is it being monitored for possible future use when

pedstrianisation happens in July/August and the enhancement of Tudor Square happens?

PCC felt it was working quite well at the moment but noted it was also not the busiest time of

year. They are undertaking a traffic management survey at the moment and were not

monitoring its use but would look into it.

Access was needed to the boat park on the north walk with sailing commencing on 5/6^th April

and every weekend thereafter. PCC would make it happen possibly by providing controlled

access. The Sailing Club representatives were asked to liaise with PCC.

Any further information/updates would be posted on the noticeboard in the de Valence and on the Tenby Chamber of Trade and Tourism website www.visittenby.co.uk. or could be sent out to those in attendance who had left their e-mail addresses.