UK Child Minister Mr. Kevin Brennan MP braved driving wind and rain on Saturday morning to meet up with children campaigning to keep their play area from being developed into three houses.
Accompanied by local MP Nic Ainger, and Manorbier Community Council chairman, Mr. Tony Wales, Minister Brennan met in the pouring rain on the site at Skrinkle Estate, Manorbier, and discussed the concerns raised by the children. The children are concerned that the developers, Pembrokeshire Housing Association, are taking more and more of their play space. They are also concerned that the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority are ignoring policies put in place to protect the site, a designated recreational area within the JUDP.
In atrocious conditions, the Minister explained that the area was completely in line with a new government initiative to create areas just like this. "The UK government recognises the important need for small areas like this, where younger children can meet to play and learn to socialise -areas that are comparatively safe within estates such as Skrinkle, where children can have their own space, but are still watched and supervised from a distance," he said.
MP Nic Ainger is also looking at various aspects of the current application. Sharmaine Richards, aged 10, of Dewing Avenue, addressing the Minister and MP, spoke on behalf of the group of banner and balloon waving children, stressing how important this was to the them and asking why councillors won't listen to them and stop this development.
"All the children and adults want to keep this area; we live here and know what is best for us," Sharmaine said. "Why are the planning people not using the rules that are supposed to protect us." After thanking the children and residents for meeting with him to voice their concerns, the Minister told them: "Although I have no direct say on Welsh affairs, I shall be writing to colleagues in the Welsh Assembly, pointing out the government's initiative and the value of this area as a play space for young children."
The children and residents thanked the Minister for attending and looked forward to receiving his and MP Nic Ainger's support. Sharmaine, meanwhile, has registered to speak to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Development Committee again when the application comes before them in February. Acknowledgement
"As a committee, representatives, and on behalf of all members of Skrinkle Tenants and Residents Association, we fully acknowledge the need for affordable housing both at local and national level. "None of our committee or members would like to deprive people of homes and sympathise with the plight of people in need of housing, as most of our members have been in this position ourselves and speak from experience.
"However, we feel enough development has taken place within the boundaries of our estate for it to be questionable as to it being a sustainable community and, therefore, truly believe this is not an appropriate area to intensify and condense more housing development."