Sir,

We would like to express our shock at the plans of Pembrokeshire County Council to house a civic amenity site next to Brooklands Nursing Home. Brooklands is not just a nursing home, it is the home of our husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and grandparents.

We understand the need for a civic amenity site, but do not understand the need to site it next to the home of our loved ones. We do not believe that it should be next to any ones home. We have seen the plans...this is not just a recycling container or two. This is a massive centre, which will intake hazardous waste and details on the plans, a 'Quarantine area', which, when questioned as to the purpose of this, the PCC officer was unable to explain.

We also have concerns for the increased traffic, as this particular stretch of road is extremely busy, with many drivers not adhering to the speed limit. The PCC plans proposed entrance to the site, will restrict exit out of Brooklands. This road is also the main tourist route in and out of Tenby.

All residents at Brooklands have either dementia or Alzheimer's. Many of our relatives enjoy spending time in the garden, which has recently been expanded, for some this is their only pleasure and we are deeply concerned that the noise and pollution levels will have a detrimental effect on this enjoyment and their well being.

When they were well, our loved ones contributed to society. Among them we have former doctors, nurses, police officers and business owners, who now have a debilitating illness that means they lack the capacity to make their own decisions or defend their own rights. Among them, are also some who fought in world wars to defend our right to a democracy and freedom of speech. Only to be taken advantage of, as they can no longer use their voice to protest.

At a recent meeting with an officer from PCC where we explained our concerns, he told us to 'take the emotion out of it'. How can we? Do our loved ones not deserve dignity and respect? We are speaking because they can't.

Please ask yourself, if the council proposed to site a civic amenity centre next to your ill and elderly relatives' home, what would you do?

Our relatives need your help.

There are also numerous paper petitions in circulation locally. There is also a Facebook and Twitter campaign.

Anyone who would like to oppose the proposals, can do so by writing c/o Brooklands and they will forward responses to the local authority.

Brooklands' Relatives

Support Group

CC: Angela Burns AM, Simon Hart MP, Older Persons Commission for Wales, Western Telegraph, Phil Baker, Andrew Davies.

FOOTNOTE: Support for the campaign against the civic amenity site has also been pledged by TV presenter and Daily Mirror columnist Fiona Phillips who said in a recent article 'Dumping on Dementia': "The manager Darren Umanee asked for my help in preventing the county council from opening a refuse tip right next to the specialist dementia home.

"Nice. Would they put it next to a school? No. A church? No. A supermarket? No. A housing estate? Of course not. So why would they think it's OK to dump it next door to a building which houses sick people in the later stages of their lives?