An ambitious plan to create a multi-million pound holiday village at Canaston Bridge was deferred by National Park planners this week.
Located in two valleys, meadowland and woodland between Minwear and Canaston woods, a decision on the 'Bluestone' proposal to create a 'leading UK short break destination' at a cost of around £61 million was unable to be determined by members of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park's development control committee at a special meeting on Monday, after last minute legal advice concerning environmental matters.
Unveiled last year, the proposal, which developers claim will create more than 600 full-time jobs and plough £32 million a year back into the Pembrokeshire economy, includes, within the National Park area, plans for 340 timber lodges and a Bluestone village, including shops, restaurant, sport club and 60 further units of accommodation.
At Monday's meeting, held at Narberth's Queen's Hall, Mr. David Prescott, solicitor to the authority, took on board the opinion of John Steel QC, who warned that if the scheme had been approved it would have been open to a legal challenge.
He also stated that the National Park should follow the advice of the Countryside Council for Wales who expressed their views in a letter: "There is no dispute concerning the details of the proposed development itself and its description. The points of concern raised by the officers of the authority relate to the adequacy of the environmental information."
The Queen's Hall was packed full with over 150 people all interested in the outcome of the project, which has already been granted permission by Pembrokeshire County Council for a waterworld and snow dome linked to the village which falls on land outside the National Park.
The meeting heard from 36 speakers - both for and against the proposals - who addressed the 15 member committee for three minutes each.
In the corner opposing the project, Mike Thorne of Tenby 2020 said he was firmly against the 'detrimental effect the project could have on the environment in Pembrokeshire,'while Ruth Chambers, of the Council for National Parks pointed out that 'by approving this dangerous proposal, an alarming precedent would be set for other National Parks over the UK'.
"Send a message that you want to protect the beauty and nature of the landscape and reject this proposal," she urged.
Speakers in favour of the scheme spoke of their desire to create more job opportunities and other exciting possibilities for the area.
"As a resident of Narberth, the closest town to this project, I fully support Bluestone," said Narberth town councillor, Wynne Evans.
"The town has been thriving all summer long, but come winter it's a different story. I believe the project will change all that and create more trade and jobs throughout the year, benefiting everyone in the town," he continued.
One of the most refreshing speeches came from 16-year-old Alison Thomas, of Milford Haven, who believed the development would "only benefit the people of Pembrokeshire."
"I believe that a lack of money and nothing to do, can lead to young people becoming bored and turning to alcoholism and drugs. Bluestone would offer young people something to do all year round," she said.
She also touched on the problems of unemployment amongst both young and old.
"My father lost his job at Pembroke Power Station and now works in Oxford, I only get to see him at weekends, he would love to come back here to work."
After the lengthy meeting Bluestone chief executive William McNamara said that he was "extremely disappointed and frustrated" with the decision and "appalled by the last minute tactics."
He continued: "We worked very hard to get this far and to give the National Park all the information they have requested; it is very frustrating," he stated.
"Our legal team will now have to sit down with theirs and try to move forward with a solution.
"Until we know the time frame from here, we are not in a position to say how long we can wait. This has come as an enormous disappointment to us."
Since the deferment, the National Park have written to the Countryside Council for Wales and representatives of the Bluestone Project following up on the meeting.
National Park chief executive, Nic Wheeler, said that officers were working urgently to resolve the outstanding issues centred on the environmental impacts of the proposal.
"We have written to CCW and to the consultants working for the applicants asking for urgent meetings to discuss this. We feel as frustrated as everyone else that the application could not be determined on Monday."
He added that authority members would be kept fully informed on a regular basis of progress.
Authority chairman, Clr. Stephen Watkins, who chaired the meeting, commented: "It is not in anyone's interest, especially the applicants, to make a hasty decision which could then be subject to a legal challenge."
Further environmental information which the applicant has to provide to the Park Authority will be subject to a statutory period of public consultation.
This could take up to 28 days from the date of advertisement.
Mr. Wheeler added that the process will be completed as quickly as possible and the application will be brought before another special meeting of the authority's development control committee.