Residents of St. Florence have given their backing to a petition that opposes a housing development in the village that they believe does not satisfy the need of those presently seeking accommodation from within the community.

The petition, which has been spearheaded by county councillor Malcolm Calver, who represents the village, is to be sent to Pembrokeshire County Council's chief executive and director of planning, requesting that the authority reconsiders its recent decision to grant permission for 14 three bedroom houses to be developed on land between Longstone and Castle Lane by the Pembrokeshire Housing Association solely for rental purposes.

The petition explains the background of the matter, where a survey was carried out by the rural enabling officer into the housing needs of St. Florence, which resulted in a need being identified for both low cost home ownership and properties for low cost rental.

Those behind the petition say that permission to grant 14 three bedroom houses to rent does not even satisfy the need of those presently seeking accommodation in the village who are registered on the housing needs register (as already living in St. Florence) or those living in private rented accommodation in St. Florence.

They are equally unhappy, too, that no provision has been made for a possible need for a disabled property in the development, i.e. single storey property.

The petition, which has been signed by 200 people from individual premises in the area, also suggests that a survey is carried out to alleviate the problem which has existed for many years regarding access from the main village road into Longstone which will be increased by this development.

"The St. Florence community it seems was consulted over its identifiable needs which have now been totally ignored," said Clr. Calver.

"This development is outside the JUDP (Joint Unitary Development Plan) and the emerging LDP (Local Development Plan) for the area.

"It was granted on the basis that it is an exception site, which are only granted planning permission after a survey is commissioned on the housing needs of a local community," he explained.

St. Florence Community Council commissioned and has accepted a survey carried out by the housing enabling officer, which showed a need for both houses to rent and also low cost housing to buy.

"The current housing needs of those residents in St. Florence for social rented accommodation, according to the housing needs register of Pembrokeshire County Council and Pembrokeshire Housing Association, stands at a need for one three-bedroom house, three two-bedroom houses and two one-bedroom houses; however, the planning permission submitted and approved was for 14 three-bedroom houses to be rented by a social landlord," continued Clr. Calver.

"At the planning meeting, I forwarded the case that, although the report showed a need for housing in the village, this development did not reflect either the conclusions of the survey or the social housing needs of the village community.

"The planning officer supporting the application argued that it was only financially viable if three-bedroom houses for rent by a social landlord were built on this site.

"If this is the case, then we as a village will never again have affordable homes built for low cost purchase, which was highlighted in the survey as a real need.

"Whilst accepting survey findings, I find it difficult to believe that the authority has granted permission for properties other than what is presently required by the village community or requested in the survey," remarked Clr. Calver, adding that the development should reflect wholly the conclusions of the survey that both social rental accommodation and affordable homes were needed in the village, and also that the rented accommodation in the development reflected the needs of the community as represented by those currently residing in St. Florence who are on the housing needs register for the village.