PLANS to convert a former art gallery to a dental surgery on the edge of a Pembrokeshire town have been refused.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Ahmed Abouserwel, through agent A.D Architectural Design Consultants LTD, sought permission for a change of use of the former Kadinsky gallery, Redstone Road, Narberth, to a dental surgery, along with associated works.

A supporting statement said: “The existing open plan gallery space will be transformed into the main dentist area, with a glazed internal lobby, leading directly into the open reception / waiting area. There will be five treatment rooms accessed directly off the reception, with a private archive room behind the reception desk.

“The rear lean-to projection will be extended to the north to accommodate a proposed decontamination room and to re-model the Staff area and W.C provision (number to remain as existing).”

It said the proposal would create 10 full and three part-time jobs.

An officer report recommending refusal said concerns were raised by the county Highways authority, who having assessed the application on safety, capacity and policy considerations, recommended the application be REFUSED on the grounds of insufficient evidence provided.

“The submitted design and access statement and block plan indicate on-site parking provision for 16 vehicles, located to the north and west of the building. The application form states that the site will employ 10 full-time staff and three part-time staff. However, the submission does not differentiate between practitioners and ancillary/support staff.”

It said, on planning guidance, health centres require three spaces per practitioner; and one space per three ancillary staff, adding: “As the applicant has not provided a breakdown of staff roles, the Highway Authority is unable to assess whether the proposed parking provision is adequate.”

It stressed: “Whist there is no in-principle objection to the redevelopment of this established site for a dental surgery, insufficient information has been provided to fully assess the proposal.”

It was refused on the grounds including it would lead “to the unjustified loss of an employment premises in a location which contributes to the local supply of employment land and buildings,” adding: “Insufficient evidence has been submitted to demonstrate that the building is no longer suitable or viable for continued employment use, nor that there is overriding community need to justify its loss.”

It was also refused on the grounds that “Insufficient information has been submitted to demonstrate that the development would operate without giving rise to unacceptable highway safety impacts or on street parking pressure”.

RETROSPECTIVE plans for a Pembrokeshire horse menage have been allowed despite being on land of a quality which normally precludes development.

In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Grant and Kayli Goddard, through agent Preseli Planning Ltd, sought retrospective permission to retain a horse menage on land South of Ferny Glen, Roch, works having been completed last March.

A supporting statement said one of the complications to the application was a predictive agricultural land classification changing the grade of the land from 3b to 2 as part of the most recent predictive classification.

Planning Policy Wales states that agricultural land of grades 1, 2 and 3a of the Agricultural Land Classification, often known as Best and Most Versatile (BMV) land, should be conserved as a finite resource for the future and should only be developed if there is an overriding need for the development and either previously developed land or land in lower agricultural grades is unavailable.

The supporting statement says there were mitigating factors, the holding being a mixed use one of forestry, agriculture and equestrian use, and development elsewhere on-site would potentially give rise to loss of sensitive green infrastructure and significant levelling and excavation works.

It added: “There is a need for the development inherent with the location of the stables, but also a need for the applicant for the wellbeing and health benefits of family members. The applicant lives and works a short distance from the site and therefore the site is the most logical location and essentially the only location for the development.”

It also said the area of the land “is small and insignificant within the wider land holding and extent of agricultural land in the locality”.

An officer report recommending approval said, following an agricultural land classification (ALC) report, the Landscapes, Nature and Forestry department of Welsh Government had been consulted regarding agricultural land quality.

“The department comment that a detailed ALC field survey is not practical or representative for such a small area (<1.0ha) especially in retrospect as soils have been disturbed on site. The ALC report therefore cannot be accepted as an accurate reflection of the land quality.

“The Landscapes, Nature and Forestry department consider that due to the small area of potential predicted BMV (0.12ha), exceptionally in this case the Department does not recommend the application of BMV agricultural land policy.”

The application was conditionally approved.

A CALL for a beer garden at the back of a Pembrokeshire seaside village bar could lead to binge and underage drinking, fights, and drunk punters relieving themselves by neighbouring properties, objectors have said.

At the next meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s licensing sub-committee, members will consider an application for a variation of a premises licence at The Bunker, Cambrian Terrace, Saundersfoot by Rebecca Evans by adding a beer garden area to the rear of this premises.

A report for members says the beer garden would have a capacity of 50, operating from 2pm to 9pm, monitored by CCTV and staff.

It adds: “During the consultation process the authority received correspondence disputing a right of way in respect of a fire exit marked on the original plan submitted at the rear of the beer garden. The applicant subsequently amended the plan to remove this exit.”

It goes on to say objectors raised other concern, which include: “The proposed external drinking area would create unacceptable noise and disturbance to the immediately adjoining residential and consented properties. With happy hours all-day-everyday and prices from £3.80 this is encouraging binge drinking”.

Other concerns include: “Visitors come to Saundersfoot to embrace the village coastal image it lends itself to. 50 customers is such a small space will definitely impair our [holiday letting] businesses as it such limited area,” and “I believe that if this goes ahead people will be loitering around the back of our premises in a drunk state, relieving themselves as they will not have access to toilets.

“They will be outside by our vehicles in the car park until all hours, if drunk they could damage our vehicles, fights could occur. The doors to the entrances to the flats are left open for holiday makers with young children, the guests to The Bunker may try to access the flats.”

Another concern raised was: “If the beer garden goes ahead children may have access to alcohol when individuals over the age of 18 purchase alcohol and give it to those underage in the garden. Those underage will be able to access the garden from the back gate. They may even be given the alcohol bought on the premises, off the premises, at the back gate area. This cannot be monitored by The Bunkers.”

It report also says there is no current planning consent for a beer garden on site, but stresses planning and licensing are separate regimes, adding the decision of the licensing authority “would not exempt an applicant from the need to apply for planning permission, where appropriate”.

Members will decide on whether to grant the licence amendment at the April 23 meeting.