A CALL to allow a Pembrokeshire agricultural building to be used as a public gym and what is believed to be the first Padel courts in the county have been given the go-ahead.

In two separate applications recommended for approval at the June meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, Harvey and Fraser Jones sought permission for a change of use of an agricultural building to commercial Padel courts and a retrospective change of use of an agricultural building to a commercial gymnasium, both at Kiln Park Farm, Kiln Park Road, Narberth.

Padel is a racquet sport that combines elements of tennis and squash.

An officer report for the two applications said: “Kiln Park Farm is a rural holding situated approximately 70 metres south of Narberth, positioned in the countryside and outside any defined settlement boundary. The farmstead consists of two substantial former agricultural barns positioned around an area of established hardstanding, historically associated with agricultural operations. Vehicular access is obtained from Kiln Park Road, a narrow rural lane serving scattered farmsteads and dwellings.”

For the gym plans it said: “The application seeks retrospective planning permission for: change of use of Barn 1 to a gym space including CrossFit, boxing and power-lifting zones, change of use of Barn 2 to ancillary facilities including changing rooms, showers, toilets, plant room and physio room, use of a shed for physiotherapy and storage purposes, external alterations including cladding upgrades, roller shutters, doors, and native species planting, use of existing hardstanding for 35 parking spaces.”

For the two indoor padel courts, it said: “No extension to the building is proposed and the overall scale and appearance of the building would remain largely unchanged. The facility would operate between 6am and 11pm daily, with booking managed online.”

For both schemes it concluded: “The proposal represents an appropriate re-use of existing agricultural buildings for a leisure use, supporting rural diversification and providing social and economic benefits.

“It is well-related to Narberth and does not result in unacceptable impacts on the countryside, residential amenity, highway safety, biodiversity or flood risk.”

Speaking at the meeting, Harvey Jones said the gym had a “community-based ethos,” and of the padel courts: “Padel is the fastest growing sport in the world at the moment, we thought it would be good to bring it to Pembrokeshire, we are the only courts this side of Swansea and have proved to be working very well so far.

“It’s amazing for friends and family to get together and socialise, and also very good for mental health as well.”

Both applications were unanimously approved by committee members.

PLANS to extend a house in a Pembrokeshire seaside village, which has an associated café which has caused local concerns about noise and disturbance, have been given the go-ahead.

In an application recommended for approval at the June meeting of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee, Amber Maytum, through agent Sureline Design Services Ltd, sought permission for the rebuilding of a ground floor rear extension, the construction of pergola, and associated works at Manorbier House, Manorbier.

The application was for committee decision as local community council Manorbier objected to the application, contrary to an officer recommendation for approval, saying: “It is considered to be a large development on a site that is too small to accommodate such and that proposed alterations are not within the keeping of the community.”

Local residents and nearby business had also raised concerns including it could intensify existing usage for evening and late events at Manorbier House Café, “which have been associated with noise and disturbance, particularly following late finishes to music events,” as well as raising concerns of an impact on residential and visual amenity, increased parking pressures cited as an ongoing concern with the existing café use, and the potential to detract from tourism to Manorbier saying the use of venue “had an impact on the village’s reputation as a peaceful destination with heritage value”.

An officer report said Manorbier House, formerly the Beach Break Café and Chives Tearoom, has been the subject of a number of previous applications, including a 2012 scheme which consented the use of an approved patio as a permanent seasonal tearoom area following a previous two-year temporary approval.

The report said it appeared conditions on that approval, in activities described by local residents and businesses, had been breached which “will be followed up by the Enforcement Section but is a separate matter to this application”.

Of the current scheme, it said amendments removing previously proposed rear dormers and an external fire escape had been submitted, and the amended scheme “would not in and of themselves lead to an intensification in use of the site or be of an overall scale which would be disproportionate to the scale and character of the centre”.

Speaking at the meeting agent Micheal Howlett said the scheme was aimed at “modest improvements” to the building and was “not an application for a change of use or an extension of hours or more events”.

He later said noise concerns would be addressed through a noise management programme; applicant Amber Maytum saying Manorbier House was “predominantly a family home,” and discussions were taking place with licensing officers.

Members unanimously backed the recommendation of approval.

TATA STEEL has confirmed that work is underway to assess the damage caused by Wednesday night’s fire at its Port Talbot steelworks.

The company said the incident happened at the Pickle Line on Wednesday evening, prompting the temporary shutdown of the Hot Strip Mill.

In an operational update issued at 2:30pm on Friday (Jun 5), Tata Steel said teams were now working towards a planned restart of the Hot Strip Mill in the middle of next week.

The fire led to a major emergency response at the Port Talbot site, with emergency services called to the steelworks at around 8:00pm on Wednesday.

Earlier statements from the company confirmed that all personnel were accounted for and evacuated safely.

Tata Steel has also said the fire was not connected to the planned demolition of a redundant gas holder carried out at the site earlier the same evening.

The company said supply chain teams were now putting mitigation plans in place, including alternative processing at the Llanwern Cold Mill and Pickle Line.

Those measures are aimed at maintaining continuity of supply and supporting customers while the affected area is assessed.

In its latest update, Tata Steel said: “Following the incident at the Pickle Line on Wednesday evening, work is now underway to carry out a full assessment of the area affected.

“During the incident, the Hot Strip Mill was temporarily taken offline. Teams are working towards a planned restart in the middle of next week.

“Our Supply Chain teams are actively implementing mitigation plans, including alternative processing at the Llanwern Cold Mill and Pickle Line.

“These actions are focused on maintaining continuity of supply and supporting our customers during this period.

“Our priority remains the safety of our people and the safe, stable operation of our assets. We will continue to provide updates as further information becomes available.

“We would like to thank our employees and the emergency services for their swift and professional response.”

Sharon Graham, from the union Unite, said the blaze has caused “substantial damage to a vital production line”.

“Measures must now be put in place to protect jobs both at Tata and down the supply chain during any period of disruption,” she explained. 

“Meanwhile we are asking Tata and the government to ensure that operations are rebuilt as swiftly as possible.”

She thanked the emergency services for bringing the fire under control so quickly and confirmed that no-one was injured.

The cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed.