RESUBMITTED plans for a previously refused scheme for eco-friendly natural burials at a Pembrokeshire cemetery have now been given the go-ahead by the county council.

A natural burial is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional burial, burying a body in the ground without a coffin or headstone.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council refused in April, the Trustees of Tabernacle Chapel sought permission for a change of use of agricultural land to extend the existing Tabernacle Cemetery, Fishguard to include a natural burial site.

A supporting statement, through agent Gethin Beynon, said the land has been in the cemetery ownership since 1945, adding: “As the development is not proposing any engineering or physical features with the natural habitat being retained, it is considered the change of use of the land would be in keeping in an area where other cemeteries exist to the north, east and west of the application site.”

It added: “With regard to the operation of the burial ground, when a burial takes place, a plot is allocated, and the turf cut and set aside. The topsoil and subsoil are then heaped alongside the grave. The graves would be dug to the appropriate depth to earth over the coffin to protect it whilst allowing the body to recycle in the active/living layer of the soil.”

It said grave locations are plotted and recorded on plan, with no marked graves.

The application was supported by Fishguard and Goodwick Town Council, subject to satisfactory outcomes of an archaeological survey in relation to nearby Castell Mwrtach, an Iron Age defended enclosure and possible associated earthworks, along with discussions with the south Wales Trunk Road Agency.

An officer report, recommending refusal previously, said Natural Resources Wales (NRW) had raised concerns about potential water pollution to controlled waters, with no risk assessment in support of the scheme submitted.

Archaeological advisors Heneb had said a geophysics survey of the site was needed to determine any effect on adjacent to Castell Mwrtach, with none submitted.

The scheme was refused by planning officers on the grounds of the concerns raised.

The resubmitted application said a ground and controlled waters assessment has been undertaken and a geophysics survey and archaeological evaluation has been undertaken, concluding the proposed use of the land would not have an unacceptable impact on the historic environment.

An officer report recommending approval said NRW was satisfied there are no unacceptable risks posed to controlled waters, adding there were no objections from Heneb, or on any potential impact on highways.

The resubmitted application has now been conditionally approved by planners.

PLANNERS are to visit the site of a proposed north Pembrokeshire ‘battery box’ unit to provide electricity storage during off-peak times, which has seen local objections including fears of a potential risk to nearby school children.

In an application recommended for approval at the November meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, AMP Clean Energy sought permission for a micro energy storage project on land at Fishguard Leisure Centre Car Park, near Ysgol Bro Gwaun.

This scheme is one of a number of similar applications by AMP, either registered or approved under delegated planning powers by officers.

AMP Clean Energy was recently granted permission for micro energy storage projects in Pembroke Dock, Pembroke, and land to the south of Withybush Industrial Estate, Haverfordwest; works on the latter having recently started.

A supporting statement accompanying each application says the battery boxes import electricity from the local electricity network when demand for electricity is low or when there are high levels of renewable energy available, exporting it back during periods of high demand to help address grid reliability issues prompted by an increase of intermittent (wind and solar) generation, with each giving the potential to power 200 homes for four hours.

The Fishguard scheme, which has seen objections from the town council and members of the public, was before committee at the request of the local member, Cllr Pat Davies.

Fishguard and Goodwick Town Council objected to the proposal on grounds including visual impact, and the location being near the school.

An officer report said the scheme would be well screened by a Paladin Fence, with a need to be sited close to an existing substation.

Speaking at the meeting, Shirley Devonald, on behalf of her elderly parents who live nearby, said raised concerns about the visual impact of the scheme, along with fears of a potential fire risk from the batteries, with Fishguard Town Council’s Cllr Jim Morgan raising concerns including the “nightmare scenario” of a fire as children were leaving the school.

Cllr Pat Davies, who had made the request for committee decision, suggested there were better “industrial” locations for the scheme, saying: “There are real safeguarding issues here, I strongly oppose this application, I just can’t understand why this location has been chosen.”

Cllr Davies stressed she was not against the technology, just the location and the potential risk to pupils.

Calls for a site visit, later formally moved by Cllr Brian Hall, were made, but Cllr Tony Wilcox said he would call for its refusal, purely on location, with Cllr Alan Dennison raising similar concerns.

Members backed a site visit by nine votes to four; the application returning to a future meeting.

PLANS for a replacement wind turbine in north Pembrokeshire, submitted after a previous scheme was withdrawn following Met Office concerns, have been approved despite objections from the local community council.

Surrey-based Constantine Wind Energy Limited, which manages some 200 turbines throughout Great Britain, had initially sought permission for a 102-metre-high wind turbine at Sarnau Farm, on the Carmarthenshire border near Trelech.

That application would replace an existing 45-metre-high turbine, granted permission in 2014.

In a supporting statement, Wilmslow-based agent Axis PED Limited said any visual impact would be “outweighed by the beneficial contribution the replacement turbine would make in the transition away from fossil fuels and the ability to meet UK Net Zero targets in line with the Government’s commitments”.

Local community council Clydau strongly objected to the first proposal, raising concerns including the size is more than double that existing, and potential visual and noise impacts.

The Met Office raised concerns about the impact on the nearby Crug-y-Grollwyn weather radar, just over four kilometres away.

After the previous scheme was withdrawn, the applicants submitted plans for a smaller turbine, some 64 metres in height; recommended for approval at the November 4 meeting of the council’s planning committee

Local community council Clydau objected to the latest proposal, saying the scheme has no real local benefit, raising potential impact of the development on the landscape, the local environment and amenity, most notably noise, shadow flicker and visual intrusion, and potential devaluation of nearby properties, along with 37 objections from members of the public.

Speaking at the meeting, Richard Grist, Senior Development Manager at Constantine, said there were no Met objections to the 64m replacement turbine, which would be more efficient, and productive than what is currently on site, “capturing more of the wind more often”.

Objector Wyn Thomas, living nearby, said the “42 per cent larger” turbine was capable of generating significantly more power and was better located elsewhere, raising concerns including noise and a potential impact on nearby water supplies during construction.

He said he and his wife had already suffered noise issues with the current turbine, investing £2,000 in a specialist noise assessment, which, he said, showed levels “at the absolute limits of tolerances”

Local county councillor Cllr Iwan Ward also raised concerns about potential shadow flicker and “an industrial scale infrastructure” of “no community benefit”.

“The proposal asks too much of local residents while giving too little back,” he added.

Following a lengthy debate, approval was moved by Cllr Alec Cormack; 11 members supporting approval with one against and one abstaining.