The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority (PCNPA) needs more powers so it can help those who live within its boundaries.

That's the belief of local AM, Angela Burns, after she discovered that only 21 affordable homes have been built within the national park in the past two years.

She said that the National Assembly should be giving greater powers to the authorities that run Wales' parks so that they can help people, not just places.

"Running a national park shouldn't be just about pickling it in aspic. Yes, they are beautiful by definition, but they are also living and breathing communities," the AM said.

"A lack of affordable housing is one of the biggest challenges facing us today and the park authority needs to be able to do more to make it easier for developers to build these homes.

"Only five years ago a comprehensive review of the way the Welsh Assembly runs national parks was undertaken and one of its main recommendations was that park authorities should be able to be more responsible for the social and economic welfare of the park's inhabitants," added Mrs. Burns, who is also the Shadow Welsh Environment and Planning Minister.

"So far we have not seen this recommendation taken up at all."

In Wales, there are 22 local authorities and three national parks - which are run by individual park authorities - and they are all funded by the Welsh Assembly.

Mrs. Burns believes that the three national park authorities should be given the responsibility, power and money to make them socially responsible.

"That way we won't have the local authority and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority pulling in opposite directions and we hopefully would have more than just 21 affordable homes built in two years.

"If we are to have a thriving, viable community within national park then the Government needs to look at how to broaden the authority's role and responsibilities.

"Nobody wants to see a Big Brother situation where control is taken away from individuals, but I do think more could be done to make it easier to find an affordable home and a job within the park."