Relatives of residents of a local nursing home have written to the leader of Pembrokeshire County Council to call for a stop to the authority's proposals to develop a new civic amenity site next to the home.

The Brooklands Relatives Support Group has written to county council leader Clr. Jamie Adams expressing their 'shock' at the authority's plans to relocate the civic amenities site from Tenby and develop a new facility on land alongside the A478 road, adjacent to the Brooklands Nursing Home, and asked him to give the matter his urgent attention.

The county council's cabinet approved plans to acquire the land for the development recently, subject to the authority receiving planning permission from the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority for the new development.

"Brooklands is not just a nursing home, it is the home of our husbands, wives mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and grandparents. All of our relatives have dementia and Alzheimer's and challenging behaviour problems, and are unable to care for themselves in their own homes," the letter stated, calling the actions of the county council as 'shocking and shameful' believing that a 'lack of respect and dignity' had been shown to the elderly and vulnerable with the plans that have been proposed.

The support group explained in the letter how placing a loved one in a nursing home was a 'heartbreaking and agonising' decision, taken when all else has failed, and how the surrounding open space at the Brooklands home has been an important factor of their decision to have their relatives reside there, as it provides peace and tranquillity for loved ones to potter outside.

"For the many who enjoy sitting in the garden, this is one of the few pleasures they have left," continued the letter.

"Our garden has recently been expanded to cater for this need, to enable us to sit with our relatives and enjoy afternoon tea, whilst feeling the sun on our faces, and now the council decide to put a tip next to it?

"The county council wish to replace the sounds of the wind in the trees and the bird song, with the angry cries of seagulls, the banging and crashing of very large HGV vehicles and a constant coming and going of cars vans etc."

The support group fears that the fresh air that those at the home breathe into their lungs will be replaced with 'rotten smells' and is deeply concerned that the noise and pollution levels will have a detrimental effect on their enjoyment and well being.

"We understand the need for a civic amenity site but do not understand the need to site it next to the home of our loved ones, and we do not believe that it should be next to anyone's home.

"We have seen the plans, this is not just a recycling container or two, this is a massive centre, which will intake hazardous waste and on the plans, clearly outlines 'quarantine area'.

The group pointed out that Brooklands also had a special male only unit, which provides specialised care for patients with challenging behaviour, and with this unit the only one of its kind in the Hywel Dda Local Health Board area, they believe that the increased stress through noise and pollution etc, will affect those in this unit, which could lead to increased challenging behaviour.

The relatives also express their concerns in the letter regarding the increased traffic that the civic amenities facility will bring, as they say that this particular stretch of road is already extremely busy, with many drivers not adhering to the speed limit.

"The access road into the site is already, frequently incorrectly used as an overtaking lane, and we fear that all of these factors will create an accident black spot. What happens if an ambulance or doctor needs to urgently get to the home and the road is congested?" the correspondence states, urging Clr. Adams to 'alleviate the stress and fears' that all connected with the home are living with on a daily basis since hearing of the plans, and putting a stop to the proposals.

The Brooklands Relatives Support Group has urged people against the proposals to sign the petition at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/brooklands">www.ipetitions.com/petition/brooklands and for those who want to oppose the plans to write to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, c/o Brooklands Nursing Home.