PLANNERS are to visit a proposed new ‘traveller site’ on the outskirts of a Pembrokeshire village, which has seen a petition of nearly 300 objections, before making any formal decision.

Nearly 300 people have signed a petition against the creation of one traveller site incorporating one static caravan, one touring caravan, day/utility room and ecological enhancements (partly retrospective) on land at Froghall Yard, Moreton Lane, Saundersfoot.

The objection to the site is also being shared by the village’s community council.

Around 50 people attended a recent meeting of the community council when members voted unanimously to object to the application.

The application is made by Dai Evans of Pontypool, through agents Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd.

Saundersfoot Community Council is recommending that the plans are turned down.

Members have pointed out that the site is agricultural land, with no caravan or other use in over 30 years.

There was also concern that the site – where two previous planning applications had been rejected – is overlooked from Incline Way above and cannot be screened,

Members have said granting permission “would be gross overdevelopment setting a precedent for development literally anywhere throughout the national park”.

The community council’s objection finished: “The applicant lives in Pontypool and claims no connection to the area.  There is no rationale as to why the applicant chose a site approximately 100 miles away from their home.”

A supporting statement accompanying the application states: “The applicant belongs to a long-standing Romany Gypsy family and generations have lived a traditional and cultural lifestyle living in caravans all their lives.

“Mr Evans and his partner currently reside on an overcrowded Traveller site in Pontypool where living conditions are poor. They currently only live in rented accommodation and its brick and mortar and not in keeping with their cultural preference, as they prefer to live in a caravan.”

It says Mr Evans and family have stayed in a touring caravan at the site during the summer months since the late 1980s when it was owned by another gypsy family, later purchased by Mr Evans in 2023, clearing and refurbishing the site.

“The application’s aspirations are to continue his Gypsy culture and traditions residing in a caravan on site.”

At the April 9 meeting of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee, members backed a recommendation to agree to a site visit ahead of any formal decision on the scheme, on the grounds of public interest.

The application will now be heard at a future national park meeting.

A CALL to allow a Pembrokeshire seaside village hair salon to be changed to an apartment has been approved, but will not be allowed to be used as a holiday let or second home.

In an application recommended for approval at Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee meeting of April 9, Mrs Allsop sought permission for a change of use of a salon to an apartment dwelling at The Old Brewery, Ocean Hair, Brewery Terrace, Saundersfoot.

An officer report for members said: “As the property is located within Saundersfoot’s Retail Centre, the proposal is deemed to be a departure from the Local Development Plan as the C3 residential use is not included within the use classes that would be deemed acceptable within this shopping centre.

“However, given that the property is accessed via an alleyway between two buildings and does not form part of a retail frontage and given the focus from Future Wales on town centres as multi-functional places and which are appropriate locations for new homes, the change of use from Class A1 to Class C3 is considered to be acceptable.

“The property is also located within Saundersfoot’s Conservation Area. It is not considered that the proposal would harm the character or appearance of this Conservation Area. No adverse comments have been received from consultees.”

It was recommended the application be delegated to the Chief Executive, Director of Place and Engagement or to the Development Management Manager to issue consent subject to the receipt of a Unilateral Undertaking Agreement addressing the provision of a commuted sum towards off-site affordable housing.

One of the conditions was the ‘C3’ housing designation.

In October 2022 Welsh Government made changes to the planning legislation and policy to introduce three new use classes, C3 for dwelling houses, C5 for dwelling houses used as second homes, and C6 for the short-term lets.

“These developments are particularly relevant to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority as a Local Planning Authority,” the report said, adding: “The Authority agreed to introduce consideration of this issue on a case-by-case basis to assess whether, under certain circumstances, to apply a C3 occupancy condition on dwellings.”

Members agreed to back the officer recommendation of delegated conditional approval.

APPROVED plans to change part of Tenby’s former town hall and market hall, and the nearby former TP Hughes department store to a spa hotel, restaurant and café could be completed in just 18 months despite concerns from local traders.

In an application recommended for conditional approval at the April 9 meeting of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee, Wil Crockford of Bassett Crockford Holdings Ltd sought permission for a change of use the former TP Hughes/ M&Co store and a part change of use of the council-owned market hall and former town hall to a spa hotel, restaurant and cafe/bar, with associated extensions and alterations at 12 High Street and Old Town Hall and Market Hall, Tenby.

The development for a new hotel extends across two buildings; the 20 hotel rooms will be located within the remaining upper floors of the existing M & Co buildings, and two new roof extensions in a mansard form to accommodate further hotel space.

The spa would be located at first floor level of the town hall aspect, and into the market’s first floor.

Further facilities in the form of a café will be linked to the hotel reception area at ground floor with additional toilet facilities and bicycle storage provided within the basement level. The proposed restaurant will be accommodated within the southern building.

The scheme was supported by Tenby Town Council, subject to conditions including the protection of existing market operations, and an agreed action plan for integration with potential refurbishment of the market, with Tenby Civic Society has raising concerns about the spa/fitness suite having an impact on the running of the market traders’ businesses.

Concerns have previously been raised about the impact on existing market traders during construction both in terms of noise and dust during works and a potential temporary market closure for construction work to be undertaken, with Cathy Butler speaking on their behalf at the April 9 meeting.

She said that while the market itself – believed to be the oldest in Wales – was flourishing despite the building being in need of renovation, there had been a lack of reassurance and feedback from the council, as landlords of the hall, as the proposed scheme progressed.

She stressed there was no objection to the neighbouring hotel but to the the potential impact on the market operations through the upstairs spa development.

“We’ve learned most of our news from the newspapers and we’re worried sick,” she told committee members, saying any impact on the market affected the “future of not just us but all our local suppliers as well”.

“Consider the small guy here; a spa is for the few, and the market for the many,” she added.

Agent Phil Davies told the committee there was no intention to disrupt the market, with the potential for putting that section of works on hold if there were any potential renovations to the hall through the council.

He said the whole scheme was expected to take 18 months to complete; the committee later hearing from local councillor Sam Skyrme-Blackhall that discussions were ongoing at council level with potential funding identified.

The application was given conditional delegated approval to senior park officers on completion of a S106 legal agreement to cover financial contributions.

A related listed building application was also granted delegated approval.