A PETITION plea to save a Pembrokeshire village school under threat of potential closure will be heard at full council.

At the December meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, a call for a breathing space before any decision is made on Stepaside school, Kilgetty, part of a wide-ranging range of education changes mooted in the south of the county, was defeated.

At that meeting, a recommendation before members asked that the Director of Education be authorised to undertake a public consultation on establishing a new 3-19 school, on a split site initially, but as part of a future investment to rebuild/extend Tenby’s Ysgol Greenhill site, or potentially on a new site was backed.

As part of that it also recommended Tenby Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled School and Ysgol Greenhill are discontinued.

A second part of the series of recommendations was a call to establish a new 3-11 primary school on the Saundersfoot School site, discontinuing Saundersfoot School and Stepaside school.

A report for members said there were many surplus places for all the schools in the proposals, with Stepaside having a surplus capacity of over 50 per cent.

The Tenby area proposals were backed, with amendments, but a call for a deferral on the second part concerning Stepaside was made by local member Cllr Alistair Cameron.

Cllr Cameron’s amendment call for a deferral was defeated by 37 votes to 12, the original proposal was later passed by 42 votes to seven, with the intention public consultations would be held next year.

Since then, an e-petition on the council’s own website, started by Angela Robinson, calls upon Pembrokeshire County Council “to Save Stepaside School and work with local communities to look at alternative solutions”.

“Stepaside School in Kilgetty is the heart of our community. It represents a high-performing local education asset that delivers significant public value. Any proposal to close it must be assessed not only in terms of short-term financial pressures, but against wider statutory duties, long-term social impact, and the strategic use of public funds that invests in our children best interest.”

The lengthy petition adds: “The rationale for closure appears primarily financial, yet any credible public spending decision must be based on a holistic assessment of costs, benefits, risks, and outcomes. This includes impacts on carers, children with additional learning needs, families from global majority backgrounds, and those reliant on local support networks.”

The e-Petition, which has attracted 582 signatures to date, runs to February 17.

If a petition gets 500 signatures or more, the creator will have an opportunity to debate it at a future full council meeting.

At the December meeting petition pleas to save Manorbier School and Ysgol Clydau, also at threat of potential closure, were heard; members noting those petitions.

A CALL to convert a financially unviable disused shop on the edge of Crymych to residential accommodation, which could provide a low-cost home, has been submitted to county planners.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Clare Griffiths, through agent Josh Macrae, seeks a change of use of a disused shop with ancillary accommodation above, at Ty Ebrill, Clares Shop, on the edge of the village, to an ancillary accommodation unit.

A supporting statement says: “Siop Clare is a mixed-use building in the curtilage of the main dwelling on the site, Ty Ebril, it comprises a small flat above a disused shop below. The flat, constructed in 2007, is comprised of a single modestly sized living space and bedroom area, with a bathroom; the flat is accessed by a set of stairs to the rear of the building. Since its construction the flat has been used as ancillary accommodation for family members of the owners of Ty Ebrill.

“The disused retail premises below is comprised of an open plan shop area with a conservatory attached, the conservatory was previously used as a flower preparation area.

“The shop was in use for a number of decades; it was operated by the current owner since 2003 and was previously an antiques shop, but has been disused since it was closed 2019 as it was no longer financially viable and the owner had changed career. Due to the shop being located within the curtilage of the main dwelling it has not considered suitable for the shop to be leased to another party.”

It adds: “The change of use will require a minimal amount of work to covert the disused shop and modestly sized flat into a small dwelling. The dwelling would be suitable for single occupancy, a small household, or as continued ancillary accommodation for the main dwelling, this would create the opportunity for multi-generational living on the site should the owner sell Ty Ebrill.

“As there is a high demand for housing in the Pembrokeshire area it is felt that the proposal would be suitable and would allow the building to become a viable dwelling, creating a potentially low-cost home in the area.”

The application will be considered by county planners at a later date.

OFFICIAL planning for the signage associated with the new Animal store in Tenby has been given the go-ahead despite concerns raised by the local civic society it ‘grated’ with the Victorian and Georgian character of Tudor Square.

Animal Tenby opened its doors in late November at the Grade-II-listed Tudor House, Tudor Square, which has more recently been used as a café.

Several cafés had run at the site including Oakley’s, Caffi Llyw and most recently, Henry’s.

The new Animal store sells outdoor wear, ski gear, beachwear and robes and kids’, women’s and men’s clothes.

Animal is part of the Mountain Group which incorporates Mountain Warehouse and Eastern Mountain Sports.

The Tenby Animal store was the tenth stand-alone Animal store in the UK.

A November-registered planning application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, by Holden Signs Ltd on behalf of Animal, covering the store’s signage was approved by park officers under delegated powers yesterday, January 19.

The proposals were supported by Tenby Town Council but Tenby civic Society, while not formally objecting, had raised concerns.

“The new sign lettering is of suitable size and the fascia setting proposed is fine. The Animal house logo-style lettering grates with the Victorian and Georgian character of Tudor Square and the conservation area. We note that nearby proposed Tesco signage was amended to maintain the character of the conservation area, and we feel the logo lettering does not enhance the character of the conservation area.

“It is a brand logo so a check whether they have amended it to fit in other conservation areas is a relevant consideration to put to the applicant.”

An officer report recommending approval said: “Tenby Civic Society whilst having no objection in principle has expressed concern as to the font style.

“Whilst a distinctive and modern font, it is not considered that the character or appearance of Tenby Conservation Area is negatively affected. The impact on amenity is considered negligible.”