Sir,
Further to last week's Tenby Observer front-page report 'New row over Skrinkle housing plan', I would be grateful if you would allow me to comment on Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority's statement regarding the report from consultants acting on behalf of the applicant (Pembrokeshire Housing Association). This report is nothing other then a not so clever, but nonetheless cynical, misrepresentation of the National Playing Fields Association six-acre formula per 1,000 head of population. Perhaps we should be asking the questions - Who commissioned the report to begin with? Who's paying the consultants? Well the answer is Pembrokeshire Housing Association has commissioned and paid for the report, therefore it would be extremely unlikely and highly surprising if it did not favour their so-called justification for stealing our children's play space. With reference to the National Park's comment, 'It is not considered that a refusal of the application based solely on the argument that the play space would be lost to the detriment of the community would be justified and would not stand up on appeal'... well, well, just how sad can we get when our planners, who are supposedly the guardians of this wonderful National Park that we live in, can make that kind of comment. Quite obviously our planners have forgotten their childhood days and the importance of playing in a safe, protected environment, close to their homes - and people ask why some of our children are growing up with little or no respect for adults? Not surprising when we can treat our children with so much contempt. Perhaps it's time to remind ourselves of this famous quotation: 'The right to play is the child's first claim on the community. Play is nature's training for life. No community can infringe that right without doing enduring harm to the minds and bodies of its citizens' - David Lloyd George.
Clr. Tony Wales,
North Norton, Manorbier.