Len Mullins

01437 775387

8^th April, 2008

WORK CONTINUES ON GATEHOUSE SITE

Work on erecting scaffold around the remaining structure of Tenby's Royal Gatehouse Hotel should begin this week, Pembrokeshire County Council has revealed.

The complex network of scaffolding should be in place by the end of the month and allow the Council to open The Norton to traffic in time for the Spring Bank Holiday at the beginning of May.

 

'There is currently no work on site because the specialist demolition contractors have finished the removal of the sections of the building at immediate risk of collapse' explained the Authoritys Civil Contingencies Manager, Richard Brown.

'However while some people feel that nothing is happening because there are no workmen actually on the site, the opposite is true.

Engineers are currently designing and arranging the erection of the complicated web of scaffold which will be erected around the remaining structure. This, of course, is happening off site but activity should return on site towards the end of the week.

In addition, further survey works have been ongoing to supplement and support this'.

 

The County Council decided last week that as survey work indicated continuing concern about the safety of the remaining structure, it would have to take urgent action to make the site safe and secure.

This emergency work will allow the Authority to open up The Norton, the road in front of the hotel, to traffic.

Parts of The Royal Gatehouse Hotel, one of Tenby's best known structures, were destroyed by fire over the Easter weekend with the remainder still standing but requiring further attention.

 

Meanwhile the shuttle service for trade deliveries into Tenby, introduced by the County Council,  will continue next week.

While cars and vans are being allowed into Tenby, customers should inform their supplier or haulier that anything bigger than a standard low roof Transit van should go to the Salterns long term car park on the outskirts of the resort where Pembrokeshire County Council will be operating a goods transhipping shuttle service for traders.

The service operates from 7 am to 11.30 am every day except Sunday.

'We are asking haulage operators and traders who have deliveries to Tenby to ring our contact centre so that we have advance warning of their arrival' explained Darren Thomas, the Council's Head of Highway's and Construction.

 

The number to ring is 01437 764551.

For further information contact Len Mullins, Press and Public Relations Officer, on 01437 775387. The Council's press releases are also available on the Authority's website: www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk

 

Len Mullins

01437 775387

10^th April, 2008

 

GATEHOUSE SCAFFOLD PLANS ON HOLD

 

Pembrokeshire County Council has put on hold proposals to erect scaffolding around the remaining structure of Tenby's Royal Gatehouse Hotel.

The Council's decision follows an announcement this morning by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority that the future of the building is to be considered at an emergency extraordinary  meeting next Thursday (17^th April).

The Council had planned to start erecting the scaffolding this weekend in order to permit the opening as soon as possible of The Norton - the road in front of the hotel - to traffic and pedestrians.

 

'However in light of the fact that the National Park is holding an emergency meeting next Thursday with a view to agreeing the demolition of what remains of The Gatehouse, the Council has decided to put on hold the erection of the scaffolding' said Civil Contingencies Manager, Richard Brown.

'While it may add a short period of further delay to re-opening the roads, this is the solution the residents and businesses of Tenby have been pressing for.

'If demolition becomes an option, it is the one the Council would pursue in the best interests of Tenby.'

 

Meanwhile the shuttle service for trade deliveries into Tenby - introduced by the County Council - continues.

The service operates from 7 am to 11.30 am every day except Sunday.

 

The number to ring is 01437 764551.

For further information contact Len Mullins, Press and Public Relations Officer, on 01437 775387. The Council's press releases are also available on the Authority's website: www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk