The November meeting of Manorbier Community Council was attended by Mr. Peter Maggs, chief executive of Pembrokeshire Housing Association, who gave a brief presentation on their work in Pembrokeshire.

Mr. Maggs opened his presentation by advising all present that the aim of the Housing Association was to provide affordable quality homes to people.

He went on to give a brief summary of how the association worked and how it was governed by the financial services; and also had to answer to the Welsh Assembly.

The work the association undertakes includes the refurbishment of houses, as well as building new houses/developments. Having a mixture of both Government grants and private mortgages enables this work to be carried out.

The association manages 1,400 properties in Pembrokeshire and employs 40 staff. At present they have a mixture of regeneration within more urban areas, which includes the refurbishment of properties, and small projects in the more rural areas.

The geographical area runs from St. Davids in the north and as far south as Tenby/Saundersfoot, with each area being serviced by the housing needs in that particular area. For example, they are able to provide one bedroom flats to a four-bedroom house. Most properties are rented, but some are offered on the low cost home ownership scheme.

Mr. Maggs went on to explain more about the Exemption Scheme, which required more planning and research, as they were normally sites not included in the JUDP scheme, but could be of benefit to communities if the appropriate housing needs were identified for that particular area.

PLANNING APPLICATIONS

The following planning applications were considered:

Manorbier Post Office and Stores - Change of use of ground floor residential to retail and porch on main door (no objection).

Elm House, Jameston - Proposed bungalow (no objection, but the council queried the access arrangements, as they were not made clear on the application).

Siting of community notice board to the side of Jameston Court, Jameston (no objection, other than by Clr. M Calver).

Lydstep Beach Holiday Park - New maintenance building and associated compound; covered area for jet skis (no objection, although the clerk was to contact both Penally Community Council and PCNP and make them aware that the application in respect of the maintenance building falls within the Penally boundary and therefore they could only comment on part of the application).

Land adjacent to Celtic Haven Holiday Village - change of use to par 5 golf training area (The chairman gave Clr. M. Calver the opportunity to declare an interest in the application, but Clr. Calver declined. No objections were raised, but the clerk was to make PCNP aware that the application was retrospective. A request was also made that tree screening take place as per the application).

SWAN LAKE TRANSFER

The council offered no objection to a transfer application in respect of the Swan Lake Inn, Jameston. Clr. M. Meyrick declared an interest.

Other items

War Memorial: Confirmation was given that the paint had been received and would be passed to a local resident who would arrange for the Tenby Army Cadets to paint the War Memorial as soon as possible.

Road signs: The council would look at the damaged road signs on the crossroads by 'The Grange' and arrange for them to be repaired as soon as possible.

Traffic speed: It was noted that speed monitoring tubes had been sited at various locations throughout the village following the community council request for a 20 mph speed limit through the village.

Correspondence was also received from Pembrokeshire County Council relating to the proposed new speed limit approaching Jameston. The community council felt that they would prefer to see the speed limit lowered to 40 mph and to include the two junctions further up the A4136.

The clerk was to write to PCC advising them of their feelings and requesting that they acknowledge the letters from residents of Jameston who had taken the time and trouble to voice their concerns on the traffic related problems being experienced through the village.

Risk assessment: The council had received the risk assessment from the county council following an incident at the end of August when a teenager was injured by a motor vehicle. The clerk was to write back to PCC and ask whether it would be possible to move the bus stop further towards the village to discourage people from being dropped off at this layby which was located on a blind bend. The clerk was to also write to First Cymru and ask them to advise their drivers not to stop at this layby for safety reasons.

Graffiti: Confirmation was received that the graffiti in the bus shelters would be cleaned in the near future.

Litter bin: The clerk was to request that a new litter bin be placed in the play area in Skrinkle.

Site visit: A site visit to the new pumping station at Manorbier was to be requested with Welsh Water, when other issues raised by the council could be addressed at the same meeting.

Play areas: Both Clr. T. Wales and Clr. M. Calver confirmed that they would be attending the public meeting at the Pater Hall to discuss the future of play areas in Pembrokeshire.

Access officer: The clerk had provisionally made arrangements for the access officer of Pembrokeshire County Council to attend a meeting on December 10 at both the Community Centre and Sports Changing Rooms to outline any proposed changes needed to comply with the new Disability Reform Act due to come into place in 2004.

Housing needs: The clerk was to write to PCC following the presentation by the Housing Association to find out what the housing needs were presently for Manorbier, Jameston, Lydstep and Manorbier Newton.

Lydstep accidents: Accident statistics were now being collated in Lydstep.

Mains gas: Following information received from Transco on the costs involved in bringing mains gas into Jameston, the clerk was to write to Nick Ainger MP, Christine Gwyther AM and the regeneration unit of PCC to ask whether there would be any financial aid available to assist this scheme.

Jameston Community Association: The clerk was to write to Jameston Community Association expressing surprise at the tone of their letter and apologising that their request for funding for the Mission Hall was accidentally left off the agenda in the summer, but the council looks forward to receiving further information from them in time for the precept meeting to be held in January.

Tree: It was noted that the tree opposite the old shop in Jameston had been tidied up.

Thanks: A letter of thanks was to be sent to all the people involved in organising the Remembrance service.

Bus shelter: The clerk was to request a progress report on the new bus shelter for Jameston.

Tree wardens: A poster was to be placed on all noticeboards asking for any persons interested in the Community Tree Warden Scheme to contact the clerk for further information.

Car park: The clerk was to write to Wales and Borders Trains to find out whether they have any plans to make a car park at Manorbier Station.