Sir,

After visiting the New Hedges Village Hall on Monday of this week and subsequently leaving with a copy of the JUD Plan for Pembrokeshire, together with other literature appertaining thereto, in what short time was afterwards available for reading through and extracting information in respect of the proposed New Hedges business park development, I wish to express my immediate reactions to the use of the 23.84 hectares of land under construction and its impact upon local communities.

Firstly, by its very definition, this land has been primarily designated a site to accommodate buildings for B1 business usage such as office premises and light industries. As such, its main purpose would be to provide much-needed regular employment for the local catchment area of young people who might otherwise be compelled to seek employment away from the region.

On this score alone, I would welcome the use of this piece of land and would give full support to this aspect of the report.

With regard to the proposals for the allocation of 1.5 hectares to provide a food store on this site and a further 1.7 for a 'park and ride' facility: on the first issue I would respectfully refer your readers to the long-standing need for a new community hospital to replace the present out-dated and ill-sited Cottage Hospital. What an opportunity we have here to re-vitalize this need - and on a siting so adequately positioned to serve Tenby, Saundersfoot and their satellite settlements.

I would, therefore, commend our local community councils to lend their support and urge the county council to bring this into perspective and give priority to the allocation of land for this use in lieu of yet another major foodstore - community health and well-being before greedy stomachs!

We are well served by our existing foodstores in Tenby, Kilgetty and Saundersfoot, also by the privately owned existing shopping facilities in New Hedges, together with our local farm shops.

In respect of 'park and ride' facilities, I would defer much comment except to remark that any provisioning of this nature would undoubtedly help to reduce the traffic overload situation especially in holiday periods and thereby relieve the heavy pressure on our local police force and our traffic wardens.

D. Spicer Freeman,

4 Cwm Gwennol,

Saundersfoot.