Youngsters go skateboarding near the planned sex shop

The youngster has written to Pembrokeshire councillors asking them not to grant a licence for the new business at the former Olde Smithy Cafe near the main bus station in Haverfordwest.

His is one of several objections to an application for a licence to open the establishment by Darker Enterprises Ltd.

Councillors will consider the matter at a meeting of the authority's licensing committee on Thursday.

To pass this application would be a very serious and retrograde step indeed Bethany Free Church elders

The teenager writes: "I think putting a sex shop in the Olde Smithy Cafe, never mind anywhere else, is wrong because there are kids skating and shopping.

"It's next to a public toilet and school."

In his letter he tells councillors rather than spending time considering applications like this they should look at providing skate board facilities in the town which does not have any at present.

Haverfordwest town council agrees the location is unsuitable and is objecting to the application.

Moral standards

Businesses and residents have added their voice and members of the Bethany Free Church have submitted a petition against the plans.

A spokesman for the church elders said: "It grieves us much that an application has been sent for a place of this nature and we as a church oppose this on several fronts.

"It goes directly against what God teaches us.

"In light of the present trend of life with its virtually non-existent moral standards we oppose it because of the disastrous effects it would have on the people of the area.

"This would also damage greatly the image of the county as a tourist centre.

"To pass this application would be a very serious and retrograde step indeed."

Darker Enterprises has a policy of not discussing applications before they are brought before council but a representative will talk to Thursday's meeting.

The company operates a number of sex shops throughout the country and has told the council that a "significant degree" of sales in Haverfordwest would be of sex articles.