Topless nun hotel sign withdrawn

Sean Roche said he had no knowledge of the controversial image

Plans for a sign depicting a bare-breasted nun outside a convent converted into a hotel in Tenby, are to be withdrawn immediately.

Developer Sean Roche said he had not seen the design that appeared before Tenby Town councillors and would not have approved it if he had.

Councillors said the sign of a nun lifting her habit was "disrespectful and inappropriate".

Mr Roche said he "sincerely apologised" to anyone who had taken offence.

His plans to convert the former St Teresa's Convent building into a hotel, restaurant and bar, won full support from town councillors.

However, all but two voted to reject a separate application for the external signs promoting the hotel which will be called The Convent.

Mr Roche said he would investigate how the image in question came to be the one that appeared before them.

"It's not the one I had overseen at the time of its submission," he said.

He said it was his intention to open a top-class, respectable, luxury hotel, bar and restaurant.

"There is no-way I would allow that image on the sign," he added.

"I am going to withdraw that application (for the sign) today.

"If it has caused offence to anyone they have my deepest apologies."

Speaking after the council meeting, council clerk Andrew Davies said: "We are supportive of the creation of a small hotel.

"We have lost quite a number of hotels which have become residential flats."

But, he added: "Our council feels that as a publicity sign it is totally inappropriate.

"We think the sign is disrespectful to the nuns who used to run the convent."