A call for a home to provide security for a well-established Pembrokeshire fuel distribution business and a proposed museum, which has hopes of developing further business units, has been submitted to county planners.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Dan Thomas, of KP Thomas & Son, through agent Cynllunio RW Planning Ltd, seeks permission for the erection of dwelling for management of on-site enterprises and associated works at The Fuel Depot, Templeton.

A supporting statement says family-run K P Thomas and Son, situated on a site close to a former airfield and former nuclear bunker, has been operating for 39 years and has “grown into a major local employer, currently providing work for 32 staff,” supplying “over 45,000 customers annually and distributes 30 million litres of fuel, 8,000 tonnes of LPG gas and 500 tonnes of coal every year,” and was “formally designated as an essential key service provider during the Covid-19 pandemic”.

A statement from Dan Thomas said he had moved some 15 minutes away to Narberth when he became a homeowner some five years ago, but “it quickly became clear that this arrangement was not workable due to the urgent and unpredictable nature of our operations”.

He said any detailed several incidents on-site which required an immediate on-site response, “the travel time from Narberth frequently caused delays, operational disruptions, and increased environmental risks”.

He said even living in nearby Templeton could cause difficulties for any emergency call-outs, which often occur in the early hours; the 24-7 business handling fuel distribution and transport logistics throughout Pembrokeshire and beyond, with his own working hours often running from 5am to as late as 8pm.

“Consequently, I had no choice but to relocate to the family home adjacent to the depot to ensure the continued safe and efficient operation of the business. This remains a temporary measure, and a permanent on-site dwelling is therefore essential to ensure long-term operational efficiency, safety, and compliance.”

He added: “As part of our fuel distribution operations, we regularly receive bulk fuel deliveries overnight. In the event of a spill, leak, or fault, an immediate response is vital to prevent environmental contamination and ensure public safety. Currently, if such an incident were to occur, I would need to travel from my home to the site before taking any action.”

As well as the existing facilities, it is hoped to construct several leasable commercial units on the site, with prospective tenants wanting permanent on-site security and immediate site supervision, Mr Thomas said.

His statement also says his grandfather “had begun developing a museum as a business but unfortunately passed away before its completion,” adding: “The value of the museum content alone, excluding the building, which includes a kitchen and café facility, was appraised at just over £12.5 million.”

He finished: “The proposed on-site dwelling is not a matter of convenience but one of operational necessity, safety, and environmental protection.”

The application will be considered by county planners at a later date.