Local eyesore: To be replaced by new retail unit.

CONTROVERSIAL plans to for the development of a new retail unit in Narberth have been given the green light by Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC).

In a planning meeting of this week the application, put forward by Abbeymore Estates, was voted for unanimously by the county councillors as the fight by Narberth traders to prevent a Sainsbury’s convenience store opening seems to have failed.

Speaking on behalf of the developers, Gareth Davies spoke to the committee, saying: “We made a successful in bid in October 2013 and our success was based on the quality of the scheme in conjunction with the Authority. The aspirations of the Authority were to turn the partly derelict school into a high quality mixed retail and residential development. The key words are vitality and commercial strength which are our guiding principles in order to revitalise the northern end of town providing colour and visual interest. The scheme is of a high quality using traditional materials to compliment the local townscape and conservation area. The access route-way will be enhanced with a new and reconfigured car park that will improve existing provision, replacing the temporary parking with 50 permanent spaces. The retail units have been designed to meet the aspirations of Narberth’s niche retail offer, but more aligned with the demands of 21st century retail. It has been done in accordance with PCC planning strategy and with the planning department and other local departments.”

Gordon Barry was due to comment on behalf of the Narberth Future Forum (NFF) group, objecting to the proposals, but had to pass his statement over to Town Councillor Moorcross, after health issues forced him to leave the proceedings. In summary the statement read that there were apprehensions with regards to the development, chiefly the concern of the loss of parking. The NFF said that the developer says there would be a net loss of 20 spaces, but that that didn’t take into account additional parking demand for employees of the new retail park. The statement went on to say that parking was at a premium in Narberth and there needed to be additional parking and this demand should be addressed. The statement also said that the current mix of independent shops was not enhanced from the proposed retail development. The NFF also raised concerns over the loss of the old playground area, currently a temporary parking area, that has, it said, been enjoyed by the community for events and festivals over many years.

Town Councillor Moorcross then spoke himself on behalf of the town stating that there had been just one presentation to the Town Council from the developers in April of 2014 and that no meaningful consultation or true dialogue had taken place since then. He further stated that Narberth offered a renowned ‘quality shopping experience’, and that this new development would take away the ‘essence’ that he said presently exists. He finished by stating that a local Sainsbury’s could not be described as ‘small’ if it had a floor area of 4000 square metres and was offering the same fare as local stores, stating this would not be ‘complimentary’ to the town’s current retail provision.

Narberth County Councillor, Wynne Evans, spoke in favour of the application, stating: “I am very proud of Narberth and what has been achieved there over many years. We have an old school building – empty for 5 years – which is a source for vandalism and graffiti. It’s not good for the town, it’s frowned upon and it’s right at the entrance to Narberth. The housing allocation provides 14 affordable houses for people with a local connection who live in Narberth. They need to be in the town and have their children go to school in the town. There are lots of opportunities to look at possibilities of new sites in Narberth (in relation to extra parking) and to move forward and work together. We must invest in the future and in Narberth. I am looking for a small supermarket with some retail units and housing, and I have put together, in the last few weeks, a new working party. Narberth is growing and growing, but we must move forward.”

Simon Montgomery, opinions editor at ‘OneNarberth’, an independent community platform for the town, said after the result: “The development will mark the most significant re-alignment of the town for a generation. The issue at stake with regard to the development is the question of accountability. I agree with what Gordon Barry, the secretary of the Narberth Future Forum has said. He explained his dismay about the lack of any community consultation. From talking to a number of key stakeholders in the town today, it is clear that along with dismay, there is also a degree of shock about the outcome of the development process. Perhaps a legal challenge will now follow. Exactly what will happen next is yet to be seen. The majority of people that I have talked to today about the matter agree that what seems certain is that the voice of the town will now be heard. What is remarkable, given the significance of the development to the town and its future, is that there has been no public consultation of any description.”