The December meeting of Kilgetty, Begelly Community Council (KBCC) took place last week at Kilgetty-Begelly Community Centre, when the latest news and other main items discussed were:

• A large number of local residents attended the public participation session in order to present their views on the proposed development of 20 houses at Kilvelgy Park, Kilgetty. Flooding and planning issues in Reynalton were also brought forward by residents.

• Paul Wyatt was confirmed as a new co-opted councillor for Kilgetty ward.

• Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC) had yet to undertake the additional landscaping at Miners’ Field, Kilgetty.

• The Rural Futures Initiative in Kilgetty and Begelly continues to move forward with further events planned for January 17-19, 2019. The local Scouts Group and Stepaside CP School were involved.

• Dyfed-Powys Police surgeries continue to be held in the Community Centre, Kilgetty, on the second Thursday of each month between 10 am and 12 noon.

• KBCC had now spoken with another provider of new play area equipment for Kilgetty and Begelly play areas and a further quote was awaited. Remedial safety work to some of the frayed ropes on existing equipment at Kilgetty play area would shortly be carried out.

• Road resurfacing work would shortly be carried out between Crossroads Garage and the new Castle Homes development, Begelly.

• Local residents and organisations are encouraged to send information on special events in the area to the clerk, who will then consider for inclusion on the KBCC website.

• Members wished all local residents and visitors a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Planning

KBCC considered the following planning applications and after discussion made the following recommendations to Pembrokeshire County Council:

Creation of a temporary loading bay and access tracks at Mature Conifer and Sycamore Woodland, adj., compartment 53 - Hean Castle Estate Woodlands, Kilgetty. Council recommended approval.

Residential development of 20 units including estate road and associated works at land to the south of Kilvelgy Park, Kilgetty. KBCC received a number of observations and concerns from local residents about this application during the public participation session which took place immediately ahead of the meeting. Members took their comments into account when discussing this planning application. Council recommended refusal of this application for the following reasons -

a). Access - the access point onto the development field itself was narrow and not suitable for heavy industrial vehicles engaged in construction. Access through Kilvelgy Park itself would also raise health and safety issues in view of the narrow and windy estate road. Council also expressed concern about large vehicle access into Sardis Road and Kilvelgy Park (from the direction of the A477 Stepaside/Kilgetty junction) as this is a sharp left turn as well as through Kilgetty village itself.

b). Density/closeness of proposed properties to existing estate properties - some of the proposed housing is to be built very close to existing properties and these will look straight into the bedrooms of the existing bungalow properties.

c). Drainage - Members expressed concern about possible drainage issues and ability of the existing water and sewerage system to cope with the new development, including water run-off from the site.

Two-storey side extension and new hardstanding driveway at 1 Parsonage Green, Parsonage Lane, Begelly. Council recommended approval.

Conversion and extension of farmhouse to three flats at Barley Park, New Road, Begelly. Council recommended approval.

Vintage tractor, machinery, implement storage shed. Hard standing area ancillary use to the existing dwellings. Rivendell and Two Gates in retrospect) at Rivendell, Reynalton. Council recommended approval.

County Councillor’s Report

County Clr. David Pugh provided the following report:

• The new Local Development Plan 2 will replace the existing plan and would extend to 2033. PCC had now approved the consultation process on the candidate sites for LDP2. This part of the consultation will run until February 4, 2019, and would be part of a consultation process that would last around two years.

• The draft 2019/20 Budget for PCC had been presented to full council and was based on the expected settlement from the Welsh Government. A final decision on the rise in Council Tax for 2019/20 would be made in February 2019.

• Following the Welsh Government’s announcement that the tolls on the Cleddau Bridge would be scrapped, PCC would be negotiating with the Welsh Government on cost subsidies for the on-going maintenance of the bridge.

• Work on new pitches at Kingsmoor Gypsy and Traveller site would commence in January 2019.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of KBCC is scheduled to take place on Thursday, January10, 2019, in the Plum Room, Kilgetty-Begelly Community Centre, commencing at 7 pm. This meeting would discuss the Annual Precept for 2019/20.

A 15-minute public participation session is always scheduled prior to the start of full council meetings. Copies of the approved minutes of KBCC meetings can be viewed by contacting the clerk, Ian Morris, on 01834 450512. Minutes of previous meetings can be accessed via the website - www.pembstcc.co.uk