Sir,

At a meeting of the Pembrokeshire County Council planning and rights of way committee in Haverfordwest on Tuesday, July 28, strong objections were registered by representatives of the residents of Penally village against the plan to build 45 wooden chalets on the field immediately behind the now defunct Night Owl club.

This proposal has already received a recommendation of approval from the director of planning (subject to certain caveats and a three month time limit for implementation), but at the meeting, it was ordered that a site visit should take place on September 2.

This visit will show the committee just how visible this overcrowded and unsuitable development will appear on the hillside above the Ritec valley on the approach to Tenby.

The details which have been presented to the PCC committee members regarding the ecology of the area and the archaeological significance of the village were paid for by the development company and everyone know that what you pay for you get. They completely underestimate the number of badger setts which surround this field and that family badger groups in Pembrokeshire normally have a feeding area of approximately 120 acres.

The ecology report submitted claims that the area as being ‘poor quality grassland with limited ecological value,’ yet anyone who knows anything about badgers will say that short grass and horse manure is an ideal place as a food source for badgers, snakes, grass snakes, Tawny owl, crow, jay, song thrush and blackbird. All have a reliance on earthworms in their diet and that changes in land use, can affect their survival. This plot has been a main foraging area for centuries. It is a greenfield site which has not been built on in recorded memory.

The developers plans have allowed the smallest possible mitigation zone from the entrance to this major sett in the hope of driving the badger activity in another direction but badgers are very home oriented and will try to return. Despite the proposed fence, they will nightly delight in digging into any lawned area and turning over the visitors’ refuse.

This is a site of prime archaeological interest with important digs having taken place at Hoyle’s Mouth, Longbury Bank and Little Hoyle all of which are in close proximity.

Dyfed Archaeological Trust is quoted in the planning officer’s report as saying that ‘the landscape surrounding the site is archaeologically significant and sensitive,’ but once the JCBs roll in, it will be too late.

The plans have recommendations for visitors to exit the site at two points, both onto incredibly dangerous stretches of road, one of which is single lane and on a sharp bend, in order to access the village. But the village will not benefit economically because any visitors will shop at the nationally owned Kiln Park on their way into Tenby.

None of the main issues regarding the problems of digging into solid rock for sewerage, road laying, lighting and water supply have been properly investigated ,all of which are already poorly served in the village.

This recently formed development company, seeks to add at least 10 per cent to the size of this ancient village and widen its characterful village road for use by a possible 90 extra cars a day with the only justification that more self-catering properties are needed in the area. And when they find that these huts are empty for most of the year or do not sell, will they then apply to turn them into brick houses? This site is outside the development area and yet at the meeting, this ruling seemed to hold little significance when a development in St. Florence was given approval.

I hope Penally will have the support of the wider community on September 2 and turn out in force to silently protest the unnecessary ruin of a beautiful village which is the delight of visitors who are looking for the genuine not some overcrowded ersatz Swiss camp.

Marcia Sivell,

Trefloyne Lane,

Penally