A local county councillor has questioned whether land in Tenby earmarked for development is still suitable for housing in light of the recent extreme weather which has caused flooding across the county.

Clr. Michael Williams says he intends contacting local Assembly Member Simon Thomas to ask the Environment Minister if he will instruct Natural Resources Wales to carry out a full investigation into the possible effects of developing the land at Brynhir, off Old Narberth Road, and in particular the implications for properties immediately below.

The land has been listed for sale by private treaty by Cardiff-based chartered surveyors, Cooke and Arkwright, after Pembrokeshire County Council declared the 6.35 hectares surplus to requirements, designating it for 168 dwellings, with up to 50 per cent affordable housing.

“I was fortunate to attend a recent seminar given by George Monbiot, a leading environmentalist and Guardian columnist, on his ideas for the re-wilding of Britain, where he advocates the reforesting of uplands,” explained Clr. Williams.

“It is known that trees enable rainwater to penetrate the ground 60 times faster than grassland, thus avoiding flooding caused by run-off. He pointed out that half of the houses built in the last 60 years have been on floodplain. Is it surprising then that we see flooding in areas where it was never previously seen?

“Currently, UK taxpayers subsidise hill farmers to graze sheep on uplands, destroying almost all natural growth, and compacting the soil. Many years ago these uplands would have been extensively forested, with livestock being grazed at lower levels, and far fewer incidents of serious flooding.

“Over the years we have paved over our gardens, drained our peat bogs, which are often nine-tenths water, and allowed sheep to denude our hillsides - yet we are surprised when the floods come. It needn’t be this way. Nature is a great sponge if allowed to do its job. Britain is now one of the least wooded countries in Europe,” continued the county councillor for Tenby North.

“My mind turns towards Brynhir which in the recent extreme weather conditions has absorbed a massive quantity of rainwater.

“I’m sure that many have seen the run-off from this land on the Narberth Road just above the Bells Corner. What fewer would have seen is the torrent of water that flows in the culvert which runs from just above Myrtle Grove, down past Tenby Coachworks and out onto the Salterns floodplain.

“The floodplain itself continues to be eroded, with caravans now being placed on concrete bases. Currently the system appears to be only just coping. One can only wonder what the effect on areas below Brynhir will be when 90 per cent of that area is covered by concrete or tarmac?

“Over 30 years ago, Brynhir was identified as land suitable for development, but since then, climate change has become more evident, with few now appearing to doubt that something is very different. The question now must be, can it still be suitable?” added Clr. Williams.

Members of Tenby Town council last month met with the county council’s head of property Barry Cooke and strategic property manager Helen Mcleod-Baikie, along with Pembrokeshire Coast National Park planning officer Sarah Middleton, to discuss the development of the site, whilst campaign group ‘Save Brynhir green space and wildlife’ are continuing their fight against developing one of Tenby’s last remaining green spaces.