AN APPEAL against a national park refusal of decking at a Pembrokeshire seaside village pub, installed for safety reasons after a child had near miss with a vehicle, has been launched.

Last year, Kath Lunn, of the Hibernia Inn, Angle, sought retrospective planning permission from Pembrokeshire Coast National Park to keep wooden decking installed at the front of the pub that April.

The application was submitted after national park enforcement investigation.

The proposal – in the village’s conservation area – was supported by Angle Community Council, and two letters in support of the scheme, on highway safety grounds, were also received.

Kath Lunn, in her application said the decking was erected following a near miss with a child on the adjoining road earlier this year.

“There has always been bench seating there with umbrellas, but earlier this season there was a very close miss when a diner’s child ran into the road and was almost knocked down. We felt it our duty of care to the customers to make the area safe.

“We considered a brick wall but thought this decking would be more aesthetically pleasing being made of natural wood. We did extend out a little further than we wanted to, to avoid cars parking and causing an obstruction in the roadway as we have experienced this in the past.”

Concerns were raised about the design by the park’s building conservation officer, who said: “The works clearly neither preserve the character or appearance of the conservation area, especially the latter.

“I am aware of the problems facing village pubs and the need to provide improved facilities – and the pub is clearly vital to the community.

“There is potential here for an alternative scheme whereby the front garden is enclosed by a traditional wall and the tables and chairs provided within a nicely landscaped frontage. That would be a gain from the original open tarmac area and hopefully would provide a viable option.”

An officer report for park planners recommended refusal on the grounds of the impact it would have on Angle’s Conservation Area.

It added: “The applicant has stated that the new decking would create a safer area for patrons, due to the front seating area being in close proximity to the highway.  This application has been submitted as a result of investigations being carried out by the authority’s enforcement investigation section.”

While the conservation officer’s alternatives were noted, “the current application is a refusal due to the impact on the Conservation Area,” adding: “It is considered by officers that the retrospective development appears as a bulky adjunct when viewed from the highway and stands out as a discordant element within the village, at odds with the prevailing character and appearance of the street scene and neighbouring listed buildings, which form an important part of the setting.”

A report before the April 9 meeting of the national park’s development management committee, said that initial appeal documentation has been forwarded to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW).

The appeal will be considered at a later date.

A SCHEME to convert a former carpenter’s workshop in a Pembrokeshire town to a unit for patrolling police officers has been approved by county planners despite objections from the local council.

The Dyfed-Powys Police application to Pembrokeshire County Council sought permission for the change of use at Unit 3, Feidr Castell, Fishguard.

A supporting statement by agents Asbri Planning Ltd said the unit would be used by local Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs).

It added: “The unit was formerly used by a carpenter, however, due to the unit now being vacant Dyfed-Powys Police, as part of their ongoing efforts to create comfortable working spaces for PCSOs, have declared a strong interest in purchasing the property to create a base/hub for patrolling officers.”

It concluded: “The change of use of the building would allow Dyfed-Powys Police to provide a base for their PCSOs in the area. The external alterations are limited to a new door along the western elevation and the only other changes that would be required are internal alterations which fall under permitted development rights.

“The approval of the application would allow a vacant unit to be utilised and would assist Dyfed-Powys Police in providing a safe environment for their staff.”

However, Fishguard & Goodwick Town Council has objected to the application, saying: “The change of use would result in the loss of a potential business amenity. It is not an appropriate location for a policing facility. A policing facility should be located in the town centre as a community facility.”

A planning officer report recommending approval said: “Whilst the proposal would result in the loss of B1 (business) premises, it would result in the occupation of a formerly vacant premises and allow for a new police unit which will be used by PCSOs. [Policy] supports development opportunities in hub towns, to encourage sustainable communities and a thriving economy.

“The proposed police station use would have a neutral economic impact in terms of providing employment within a hub town. Positive social benefits would be derived from retaining the police station within the hub town and allow for further allocated room for PCSOs.”

The application was conditionally approved.

Dyfed-Powys Police recently submitted an application for a change of use of the former Public Information Centre, Argyle Street, Pembroke Dock to a police station.

In that application, it said its current station in the town’s Water Street is “no longer fit for purpose,” with the force declaring a strong interest in purchasing the Argyle Street property “to enable a more efficient building to house their new model hub for policing”.

That application, recommended for approval, was heard at the council’s March planning meeting where it was deferred for members to visit the site.

Objectors to that scheme have said the proposal would have “a significant impact on working families and children,” with emergency vehicles potentially leaving at high speed from the busy road.

The Pembroke Dock application will return to a future planning meeting.

A further police station move in the county is on the cards after Dyfed-Powys Police recently announced it would sell its station in Jesse Road, Narberth and relocate to a new base with Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Services (MAWWFRS) in nearby Spring Gardens.

Reacting to that announcement, Narberth Town Council said it only heard about the sale through a press release shared by news outlets.

A SCHEME for 17 affordable homes on the site of a Pembrokeshire seaside village football pitch has been approved by national park planners.

In an application recommended for conditional approval at the April 9 meeting of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee, housing group Ateb – in partnership with Solva Community Land Trust – sought permission for the two-stage development on land adjacent to Bro Dawel, Solva.

The hybrid application sought full planning for the first stage: 17 social-rented dwellings, the reinstatement of a junior football pitch and associated works, along with outline planning permission for a second phase of a residential development of 11 dwellings.

An officer report for members said: “The application process has been lengthy, namely due to concerns surrounding design and the uncertainty surrounding the capacity of the Solva wastewater treatment works (WwTW).

“The design is overall acceptable and in coming to a recommendation authority officers have given considerable weight to the contribution the scheme will make in addressing local housing need. The Authority expects the scheme to achieve a high-quality appearance and appropriate planning conditions should realise this requirement.”

It added: “The scheme will lead to the loss of 2-3 junior football pitches however one pitch will be reinstated as part of the proposal with the addition of a storage facility.  The standard, design and construction of both pitch and storage facility shall be secured via the Section 106 [legal] agreement, in addition to their future management and maintenance.

“Planning obligations for secondary education provision, library contributions and assurance that the housing remains affordable in perpetuity will be secured by legal agreement.  Subject to the provision of these planning obligations and necessary conditions the proposal is considered acceptable, and the application is recommended for approval.”

The proposal includes a storage facility (small shed) for a ride-on mower and smaller items of kit for the football club, a statement that specifies that the open space be retained as such in perpetuity, with it used as a football pitch, a financial contribution to cover extra pupil capacity at Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi in St Davids of £34,560 for the first phase, and a contribution of £1,217.44 for library services.

Members heard the properties would help address a county housing need of 142 affordable homes a year, with a local lettings policy.

Speaking at the meeting, Joshua Philips, a member of the local community council and the Solva Community Land Trust said the scheme would help address a “housing crisis going on in Wales,” with 5,000 people on the housing list in Pembrokeshire alone.

Members approved the scheme, with 16 for and one abstention.