Councillors in Tenby have raised the matter of the future of the Brynhir site once again, when discussing matters concerning the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’s ‘Local Development Plan’.

At Monday night’s meeting of Tenby town council, an updated list of land allocations and large residential sites included in the LDP for the town came before members.

Clr. Laurence Blackhall said that he was pleased with the list in general as it was much ‘more realistic’ now that certain sites that had previously been identified, that would clearly never been developed, had been removed from the list.

When discussing the Brynhir site, which Pembrokeshire County Council as the landowner has been in negotiations over the sale of, Clr. Blackhall queried why the site had not ben re-allocated in the Deposit Revision for the LDP and the centre boundary for Tenby had been redrawn to exclude the land.

“Maybe we could invite someone from PCNPA to a meeting to explain the thinking behind it,” he said.

Pembrokeshire County Council cabinet member Clr. Pat Davies recently stated that the authority was ‘fully committed’ to building social housing in the area, when responding to a notice of motion put forward by Tenby councillor Mike Evans regarding the council owned land at Brynhir which had been earmarked for development.

Clr. Evans had called for the land to be withdrawn from open sale “so that a social housing scheme to meet the needs of local residents, including social rented, low cost ownership and innovative self-build opportunities can be brought forward.”

The proposal has been discussed at overview and scrutiny committee, along with an officer recommendation that the sale process be paused while a review is carried out.

Clr. Mrs. Tish Rossiter once again said that she thought the whole idea was for PCC to gain revenue from the land.

“Surely it would be more advantageous to develop the land overlooking Bell’s Corner instead. The Brynhir land is used by the public and not only dog walkers, it would be so sad to lose it,” she remarked.

Clr. Will Crockford said that he too liked walking in the area with his family but suggested that it would be more beneficial to Tenby if it was earmarked for a social housing scheme, with a covenant included so that the those with local connections would have first refusal.

Clr. Blackhall agreed that Clr. Evans’ ‘notice of motion’ was a step in the right direction, to ensure that a bigger percentage of affordable homes and social housing was included in any development on the Brynhir land, rather than a sale being agreed where the land could be sold for holiday homes.

He said that there were examples of big housing development companies making undertakings for affordable housing and then whittle away at costs and ultimately diminish the percentage of affordable units provided.

“We need to make sure that PCC sit down with us once this moves forward. Perhaps we could see an area for public space allocated within any development too,” he added.