Sir, I was so disappointed to read the headline in last week’s Observer regarding the Brynhir site. I find it totally amazing that a Tenby South Ward county councillor would put in such a request involving the Tenby North Ward. In an ideal world, the local representatives should take into account the local opinions of the people they are supposed to represent.

The Brynhir fields have been used by locals for many many years, which is proved by the generous donation of chairs for people to enjoy the view. It is our sanctuary away from the town in the summer when the holidaymakers arrive. Families walk their dogs, fly kites and generally get out and about. More recently, during the snow, it was used as a safe place to go sledging away from the main roads. All in all, it is the last two green fields that Tenby has for the use by the locals.

I am not saying we don’t need affordable housing; we do, as young people cannot afford to buy existing houses, but putting over 200 houses on the Brynhir site is absolute madness. You cannot get a doctor’s appointment at the surgery as it is, unless you queue a good 45 minutes before it opens and you are less than sixth in the queue, so this will just add extra pressure on the service.

In addition, the water that runs off the fields onto Bells Corner in heavy rain is a mini torrent. If it is all tarmacked, then this would only increase. There will be comments that there will be drains etc. to take away the water, but I know from experience that a new development’s sewerage and drainage system gets attached to the existing system; the wells cannot cope with the extra water, then flood out the houses further down.

The properties in the immediate area are two or three-bedroom bungalows. I can only assume that, although affordable, two to three-bedroom houses would only be in the higher band bracket. So even if people can get a mortgage, as the wages are not exactly high, people will not be able to afford the well over £1,000 tax bill. Council tax will keep going up year-on-year and to start at 12.5 per cent will start pushing people out, not allowing them in.

I don’t see why the county council can’t take a census of the unlived in and rundown properties that are around and compulsory purchase them, do them up and rent them out, creating an income or selling on, as they do in other councils around the country.

The council do have other parcels of land a bit further out; there is no need to put extra pressure on Tenby.

The long and short of it is that the Brynhir fields are well used by the people of Tenby; it is about time that Tenby county councillors were on our side and not pick political points. Have the council actually asked if any land owners would sell some to developers? Or if they are that strapped for cash, take a look at their own wage bill.

Tenby resident and

Brynhir fields user

(name and address

supplied)