'Save Saundersfoot Coal Office' is a campaign formed in August 2014, when members of the community became aware that under a strategic redevelopment programme, planning consultants, The Urbanists, having been instructed by Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC), proposed the demolition of the Coal Office and its adjoining gardens to provide additional car parking spaces for the existing harbour car park.

We would like to stress that the campaign has no objections to the proposals for redevelopment of the harbour area owned by Saundersfoot Harbour Commission (SHC). Our objections relate purely to the Coal Office and its two adjoining gardens, which are currently owned by PCC. Our objections are formed from the opinion held by supporters of the campaign, that the Coal Office is an iconic building and a tangible link with our industrial heritage. It is a building which must be preserved.

Through Facebook, supporters of the campaign have expressed their concerns at the proposals. However, we are aware there are many supporters of the campaign who do not have access to Facebook and for their opinions to be heard, a public meeting is required.

On August 15, Saundersfoot Community Council (SCC) placed the following statement in the Tenby Observer:

'Saundersfoot Community Council are concerned at plans put forward by the Urbanists (formerly Powell Dobson) for the development of the harbour area.

'The latest version suggests that the community would lose the Barbeque lawn, the Coal Office and the Sensory Gardens and it would be replaced by a central square that would be used for car parking.

'Saundersfoot Community Council would like to make it clear that, like the rest of the community, they have no desire for any such change to take place and will defend the community in this respect'.

A special meeting of the community council was called on August 23 when it was agreed a public meeting would be convened. In the Tenby Observer (August 26), the clerk to the council advised this would be held after Saundersfoot Forum had met on September 26, should further information be available as a result of their discussions.

We are still waiting for the public meeting to be held. SCC now holds the view that unless the building is offered for sale there is little to be gained from calling a public meeting. The campaign has written to SCC asking that they reconsider. This request should be raised at their monthly meeting due to be held Thursday, November 6.

If PCC is in agreement with the proposals put forward by their planning consultants, it is unlikely the Coal Office and its adjoining gardens would be offered for sale to the general public. SCC's solicitors, Price and Kelway, have already advised SCC there is nothing to prevent PCC from disposing of the Coal Office and its gardens to SHC to realise the regeneration scheme. As a community the first we may learn of redevelopment and demolition is after a planning application has been submitted to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Planning Authority.

As a campaign we would ask SCC to consider public consultation now. It is important to seek the views of the community regarding this building. We would hope everyone over the age of 16 would attend for a good representation of the community to be present. By show of hands an indication could be sought of those who would wish the Coal Office and gardens to be retained and those who are agreeable for them to be included in the proposals put forward by The Urbanists.

We would invite and welcome supporters of the campaign to write to the clerk of SCC, before November 6, and request a public meeting is held. (John Griffiths, Clerk to the Council, Saundersfoot Community Council, Sunnyside, Pentlepoir, Saundersfoot SA69 9BN).