Sir,
I would like to correct a false impression which your readers may have gained from the record of Manorbier Community Council's June meeting published in last week's edition of the Observer.
The current position is that Manorbier Conservation Group has submitted a report, known as the Project Review, to the community council in line with its brief which has been to examine the proposal contained in a previously published document and make recommendations. That earlier report, known as the Proposals Document, was finalised after full public consultation which included an exhibition, public meetings and verbal and written submissions from local residents. That earlier document was also scrutinised and approved by the community council and the National Park Authority on completion of public consultation.
Therefore, the current review was the outcome of a commission from the community council and the National Park Authority arising from the creation of the Manorbier Conservation Area. I might add that the conservation goup was established by these two bodies and its members elected at two public meetings.
Consequently, once these two bodies have commented on the review and hopefully approved its recommendations, it will be made public as before, at meetings arranged jointly by the community council and the National Park Authority.
I trust this will clarify matters as it is important that residents in the area are not misled as a result of a misunderstanding which appears to have arisen at community council level. Conservation Area status is vital to the recognition of this village as 'a place of historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance'. To maintain this, it is necessary to have representatives of the community committed to carrying out a watching brief.
Andrew McCabe,
Chairman,
Manorbier Conservation Group,
Manorbier.