Among matters considered an discussed at last month’s meeting of Amroth Community Council were the folllowing:

Matters arising from previous minutes

• Donation to St Elidyr’s for construction work to increase the size of the graveyard. Clr. Mary Megarry has met with Nigel Towns to discuss requirements. Following this she submitted an expression of interest to the Enhancing Pembrokeshire Grant. This will be considered for eligibility by the grant administrators.

• Beach Sculpture Festival/event for 2020. Clr. Mary Megarry will meet with Tina Cunningham to discuss the proposal Tina has sent through. Clr. Megarry has submitted an expression of interest to the Enhancing Pembrokeshire Grant which will be considered for eligibility.

• Clr. Roger Harries has met with several contractors to survey the Ash trees on community owned land for Ash Dieback disease. Sixteen trees have been identified as infected and are earmarked for removal. Initial verbal quotes have been obtained. Clr. Harries reported that due to the size of one of the trees, a specialist contractor will be needed and so it is likely two contractors will have to be engaged to carry out the work. Councillors agreed to allow Clr. Harries to accept the most appropriate quotes and to have the work carried out as soon as possible in order to make the land safe for public access.

• Clr. Pauline Davies met with the head teachers of Stepaside and Tavernspite schools and has agreed a joint project to investigate the impact that the Clean Seas Project and Bertie the Sea Bass have had on the use of single use plastics. The schools will take the lead on the project which will be built into the school curriculum.

• A public meeting was held on October 7 in Amroth Parish Hall to hear comments from the public about the Heritage Park planning application. Seven councillors attended the meeting and agreed to formally object to the proposal based on the comments made by members of the public attending the meeting and other communications received. Clr. Alec Cormack declared an interest and didn’t take part in the discussions.

• Understanding Welsh Places - a website has been launched giving information about towns in Wales. It has data about employment, schools, shops and much more, all at town level. See  www.understandingwelshplaces.wales 

• Beach wheelchair update - Clr. Rosemary Tippett- Maudsley reported that the slipways in Amroth are in very poor condition. The number of deep potholes make it unsafe to try to access the beach via the slipways with a beach wheelchair. Agreed; Clr. Roger Harries offered to arrange a site visit with Emyr Williams, sea defence manager for PCC, to look at maintenance requirements on the slipways and to obtain an update on the maintenance work needed on the groynes at the New Inn end of the beach. These had been reported previously.

• Clr. Tippett- Maudsley also reported that wheelchair access to the promenade from the slipway by the summer lifeguard station is inaccessible due to a step, and a slope/ramp is needed. Agreed; clerk to contact PCC access officer to inform him of the issue. The work will need to be carried out before a wheelchair is acquired.

County

Councillors Report

Local Development Plan (LDP): The council is currently in the process of finalising a Local Development Plan, which will run until 2033. The current LDP ends in 2021. The proposed LDP will see a 60/40 split between urban and rural development with a target of 425 homes being built each year. The LDP will be put to full council on December 12 and it is intended that there will be an eight-week public consultation period from January 8, 2020. The proposed consultation period is longer than the six-week period required by law in order to enable town and community councils time to meet and discuss the proposed LDP before submitting their responses.

Woodland Band of Hope: The land known as Woodland Band of Hope in Stepaside is owned by the county council. There is a western strip, which is contaminated having been used for landfill. However, most of the land is not contaminated. I have learnt that an approach has been made to the council to buy the land. I would suggest that this land should be kept in public ownership to be used as a recreational facility for the local community. I believe that there are grants that could be secured for decontamination of the land. There would have to be a study undertaken of the contaminated land in order to assess the cost of decontaminating it. However, I believe this area could be fenced off. I would recommend exploring the possibility of a community asset transfer and using Enhancing Pembrokeshire Grant funding to pay for opening up the non-contaminated area for public enjoyment.

Pleasant Valley/Heritage Park: I have written to PCC fully endorsing the letter from Amroth Community Council, detailing the ACC’s specific objections to planning application 19/0506/PA. While in general I am in favour of developments that improve the tourism offering of Pembrokeshire and that increase employment opportunities, I am convinced that granting planning permission to this application would result in a major over-development, which would adversely impact upon the quality of life and well-being of the local community.

I have received numerous communications from residents in respect of this application. All but one or two have raised valid reasons for objecting to the development. I have forwarded emails objecting to the application to Mike Simmons where residents have found it difficult to use the online process. I have asked that the problems encountered by those attempting to use PCC’s website be investigated.

Kerbside sorting: Registration period is open for larger families to apply for larger allocation for residual bags.

Planning

Land at West Llanteg Farm. Proposal - Signage for residential development. Reconsultation due to amended plans. ACC havd no objection.

Euro Garages Ltd. A477 Llanteg to Red Roses. Proposal - Discharge of conditions 9, 10, 11, 12 and 14 (ref 17/1051/PA). Refused by PCC due to insufficient information.

Penglyn, Amroth. Proposal; - Demolition of existing conservatory and replace with single storey lean-to side extension together with a two-storey rear extension. Application approved by PCC.

Correspondence

• An email was received requesting the community council to arrange a dedicated taxi space on the front in Amroth. There is a new taxi business setting up locally and having a dedicated space would make it visible to residents and visitors.

Councillors discussed the matter. The introduction of car park charges next season will result in there being very few free spaces available in Amroth village near the shops and councillors were reluctant to see one lost; especially as it could be empty for much of the time when the taxi is employed. In addition, taxi ranks are for licensed Hackney carriages only, not private taxis. Councllors agreed to refuse this request. The clerk would respond accordingly.

• West Wales In kind Investment Fund. The fund supports regional and county intergenerational projects across West Wales that - improve social connectedness; reduce social isolation; support young and old people to learn from one another Grants are available up to £50k across regional projects and £25k across county projects. Deadline is November 30. Projects must run between January 1 and December 31, 2020. For an application pack, contact [email protected]

• Building Communities Trust will be running workshops to discuss how do communities work with Government and how might we use a Community Wealth Fund in Wales? The workshop will be on November 28 and run in partnership with PLANED.

Amroth and District Community Association

The last Bingo session of the season was held on October 25. The hall has acquired two new users offering Yoga on Sunday and a Dance Class for Children on Saturday. New tables have also been acquired.

Llanteg Village Hall Committee

• Walking group. A full programme has been organised. For more information contact Jill on 01834 831142. The next walk is Freshwater East and is being kindly led by Vicki Thomlinson. Saturday, November 30, 2 pm/

• All activities well supported with increasing community involvement.

• The craft exhibition was well attended with a variety of crafts on display.

• Superfast broadband is up and running

• The Remembrance Service will take place in the hall on November 10, starting at 10.45 am.

Monthly

Police meeting

• NHS now has its own non-emergency medical helpline. The number is 111.

• The theft of farm gates is an increasing problem

• An increase in shoplifting has been reported as has an increase in the theft of bags/purses from shopping trolleys.

• Scam - telephone calls pertaining to be from Nat West request recipient to press 1 on their telephone to continue the call. Do not do so.

• Scam re. Thomas Cook - Scammers are phoning regarding refunds and asking recipients to give bank account details.

• YOLO is an app informing children how to bully other children. The police are looking into it and taking it very seriously.

Update on

Exercise Jantzen

• The application for an Enhancing Pembrokeshire Grant has been successful. Official confirmation has been received of a grant awarded for £2,436.48p to be match-funded with £609.12p by ACC. Following some administration, the project can now start. Councillors congratulated Clr. Harvey on all his hard work.

VE Day May 2020 Celebration

• Confirmation that the event will include the official launch/unveiling of the Exercise Jantzen information board. Now the Exercise Jantzen project has had confirmation of funding, Clr. Harries is hopeful that more members of the community will sign up to take part in organising the celebration.

• Anyone interested in taking part, please contact the clerk or Clr. Roger Harries.

Possible

one-way system

Possible one-way system to/from St Elidyr’s Church to Amroth.

The clerk informed councillors that 16 responses had been received to date on this matter. Six were for the system and 10 were against. The clerk has written to all the emergency services for their comments, but no responses had been received to date.

A full discussion took place. Clr. Harries stated that submissions from the residents of the lanes should have the final say and councillors agreed with this statement. It was also reported that trees overhanging the lanes and making the road narrower, should be cut back more regularly.

Councillors agreed not to proceed with this proposal based on the number of objections received, and especially those from residents of the lanes. Overhanging vegetation needs to be addressed on a more regular basis.

Next meeting

The next meeting will be held at Amroth Parish Hall on Thursday, November 21, at 7 pm.