Picturesque: Newport, Pembrokeshire

MEMBERS of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park have voted to visit a site for a proposed small holding under One Planet Development rules.

The development would be located on land adjacent to Castle Hill in Newport.

The Park’s Development Management Committee met on Wednesday, January 27, to discuss the application submitted by Ms Sue Gillooley.

There were also objections to the plans from Newport Town Council who stated that the community had not been consulted properly.

However, the applicant stated that she was willing to hold an open evening with members of the public and town councillors to discuss her application.

Speaking against the plans, Mr William Ward said: “The thirteen public responses including all the applicants’ immediate neighbours have not been approached by her to discuss this application. Nor were we consulted personally about the limited right of way over our private lane to access her site.

“The detailed public responses have not been adequately dealt with in the report.

“The site is one of the most beautiful and unspoilt positions in the National Park.

“This site is not suitable in such a sense of being in an accessible location. The applicant originally intended to grow vegetables, following the failure to grow vegetables in the first year and potatoes in the second year the applicant has decided to apply under One Planet Development (OPD) with no claimed expertise or experience of her own in horticulture.

“One Planet Development Rules must be strictly complied with. The management plan must be supported by robust evidence of a confident person but there is no evidence of her ability to manage and run the site on her own.

“The management plan is nothing more than an unsupported wish list and should be rejected.

“The applicant has chosen the highest most visible point and most difficult access to her house. The additional access road will exacerbate the problem.

“Is it really right to use OPD to get a house on this site to the detriment of so many people for the sake of one applicant?

“Please visit this special site so you can judge for yourselves the major consequences this application will have.”

Applicant Miss Sue Gillooley said: “The house location has been carefully chosen to cause the least visual impact. I have designed it to blend into the landscape by using the natural gradient to sink the building 2 metres below ground at certain points.

“In response to Newport Town Council’s comment a great deal more to be done to educate the public about One Planet applications and I would happy to be organise a presentation and open forum for discussion on OPD applications for councillors and local residents.

“I understand that some people have worries about my applicant and I would like to have an opportunity to discuss and dispel their concerns.

“I am seeking planning permission to enable me to live simply and modestly, to respect and lovingly tend to this beautiful land.”

Cllr Paul Harries proposed that the committee go on a site visit saying: “I know the area particularly well and would like to call for a site visit. The application is in a stunning location which you can’t see from the photos which doesn’t do it justice. It’s in a very beautiful part of the park and it needs to be seen to be fully appreciated. The access is challenging so it would profitable if we saw it.”

The site visit was seconded by Cllr Lyn Jenkins and was passed with nine in favour and two voting against it.