Hotel gets new licence despite 'homeless' claim

A PREMIER Inn which a councillor claimed was accommodating some people in need of temporary housing in Carmarthenshire has been granted a new premises licence.

- RICHARD YOULE Senior local democracy reporter

A council licensing subcommittee heard the hotel at Pemberton Business Park, Llanelli, already had a premises licence but needed a new one because of plans to partially redevelop and update the site.

The redevelopment will result in the demolition of the hotel's adjacent bar and restaurant, which will be relocated to the ground floor of the bedrooms building. The new licence is for this repurposed section of the bedrooms building. An additional bedroom block will replace the former bar and restaurant.

Tim Shield, a solicitor on behalf of Premier Inn owner Whitbread Group plc, told the subcommittee that planning approval had been given for the revamp project.

He said there have been no previous issues regarding the operation of the hotel and no objections to the licensing application from key consultees, known as responsible authorities, such as the council or police.

"We hope to continue to be a positive addition to this area," he said.