Last week, Pembrokeshire County Council held their Brynhir development information drop-in at the De Valence Pavilion in Tenby.

This was extremely well attended, with members of the public given the chance to meet with senior members of PCC’s housing staff and to talk to the Cabinet Member responsible for housing, Clr. Michelle Bateman.

People were able to see some of the outline plans examples of the types of property design that could be built.

Given that this is an ongoing consultation, there were lots of opportunities to talk about what it wanted and needed.

Telling her colleagues on the town council of the success of the event, Tenby’s Mayor, Clr. Sam Skyrme-Blackhall stated: “It was tremendous to see the interest and for people to hear the real story of the proposed development.

“Hopefully, people can see that there is an ongoing commitment from our colleagues in PCC to serious consultation about all design elements of the scheme.”

Clr. Skyrme-Blackhall went on to talk about the continued housing crisis for the area, and how Brynhir will be a welcome development with 102 Council Housing Units going on the site, providing local houses for local people.

“But it is still going to take some years for this scheme to come to fruition. We have a crisis now,” she continued.

“No amount of warm words will make up for the fact that people are being given dates by which they have to leave their homes now. We need serious ideas and workable plans to tackle this issue.”

Talking about a decision to set up a Housing Task Group, the Mayor explained that she wanted to see work get underway immediately.

Recognising that this was a wider issue than just Tenby, she explained that the town council would be seeking to invite colleagues from Saundersfoot, New Hedges and Penally to join in.

Input from specialist officers from Pembrokeshire County Council and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority was needed too.

“There are lots of ideas out there as to what can work. We need to find out what will work for us and what else we can try,” remarked Clr. Skyrme-Blackhall, explaining that ideas include - covenants on land, restrictions on sales, buyback schemes, community land trusts and many more.

“I want to know where the best example is, learn from them and see if they work here. I want facts not fantasy.”

At the initial meeting of the Task Group, the members will identify who else needs to be involved, who they are going to seek information from and what data we need to gather to demonstrate the local need.

The group will also be asking people living locally if they have any expertise that they can bring to the group and if there is anything they could do to help.

“There may be people who have retired here, or second-house owners who think that they can help. We are keen to hear from them,” added the Mayor.

Anyone with information for the Housing Task Group, offers of help or ideas is invited to write to the town council’s Housing Task Group at the De Valence Pavilion.