Town nursery could shut if housing plan goes ahead
The application was recommended for approval at the July meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council's planning committee, but no decision could be made at that time
St James Street in Narberth
(Image: Google )
A decision regarding a housing project in Pembrokeshire, which sparked concerns that a local nursery could be forced to shut due to increased traffic, has been postponed as planners await updated guidance on potential water quality impact.
Sarah Voaden's application to construct three houses at Llwynon, 61 St James Street, Narberth, within the town's conservation area, was recommended for approval at the July meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council's planning committee. The decision had been deferred from the June meeting pending a site visit.
The proposal includes a financial contribution of £38,156.25 towards affordable housing. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here .
The proposed site, situated just outside the town centre, can be accessed via a private lane off Tabernacle Lane, approximately 20m south-east of the Tabernacle Lane/St James Street junction.
Narberth Town Council has lodged objections to the scheme citing reasons such as inadequate access and highway safety, capacity to handle additional foul waste, the development being out of character, and overdevelopment.
16 members of the public have also voiced their concerns, including issues related to parking and access, and the lane's suitability to handle the traffic associated with the additional residential properties. However, no concerns were raised by the highways department.
Article continues below
At the June meeting, Andrew Vaughan-Harries, an agent from Hayston Planning and Development Ltd, portrayed the "vibrant" application as a "win-win-win". He argued that it would utilise derelict land, enhance the area, and included the applicant's offer to resurface a narrow lane. Additionally, there was a proposed contribution of around £38,000 towards affordable housing in this lively town.
However, objections were raised at the same meeting by Hayley Bowlett of Noah's Ark Child Care, which employs 24 staff and has 154 children enrolled. She expressed concerns about the existing traffic issues on the narrow lane leading to the nursery, which she feared would be exacerbated by construction traffic if the scheme was approved.
She warned that this could result in the nursery breaching legal operating standards, potentially forcing it to shut down.
"We'd leave 20 people without employment and 150 children with nowhere to go," she informed members, adding: "Health and safety is the biggest concern for our children; children are walking up and down on a daily basis and would be at risk of any construction traffic."
The proposal was brought back to the July meeting, once again recommended for approval. However, committee members were informed that no decision could be made at that meeting, and the item was subsequently removed.
The committee was informed that the recent dip in water quality within the Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire Bay Marine Special Area of Conservation prompted this reaction, which has a direct impact on various projects falling under the local planning body's oversight.
Members learned that, based on preliminary advice regarding the situation, the regional planning authority is currently lacking adequate or detailed data to conduct or revise the required habitats regulations assessment [referring to the matter at hand] to ensure the proposed developments would not negatively affect the environment.
The committee understood that the planning officials were still processing the new information and the provisional recommendations from Natural Resources Wales, acknowledging that it could be "potentially unsound" to proceed with any resolutions until all necessary details were at hand.
The case will be revisited in an upcoming meeting.
Article continues below
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Press and Journal
2 hours ago
- Press and Journal
'How family heartbreak inspired me to bring taste of Brazilian homeland to Aberdeen's Union Street'
Otavio Ferreira and his mum Angela Freitas' dream of bringing a taste of Brazil to Aberdeen all started through a chance Google search. Strolling the streets of London after tragedy forced him to head south from the Granite City, the pair were looking for a comforting taste of home. 'We searched it up and luckily enough we were a 10-minute walk from a Jungle Berry spot,' the 24-year-old tells me. They were soon tucking into the tart and sweet flavours of its trademark acai dishes, a small but versatile berry known for its health benefits. It is only grown in the Amazon, and Otavio and Angela were instantly transported back to their native Brazil. This chance quick bite to eat has ended up snowballing into the restaurant stalwart opening up his own franchise on Union Street. As I walk into the under-construction cafe on a blustery morning, the mum-and-son duo are working tirelessly to get their labour of love open. Sitting down at one of the tables, Otavio begins telling me the story of how he came to live in Aberdeen… The 24-year-old, originally from Belo Horizonte, moved to the Granite City in 2020, having spent 10 years in the hospitality industry. Starting out at a burger joint in his native country with his brother, Otavio has worked his way up to being second in command at popular spots like Miller and Carter and Estabulo in Union Square. But the young South American is now making the jump into running his own business. 'I always dreamed of creating something of my own that could offer not just great food, but a meaningful experience,' he said. But it was tragedy that led to Otavio and his mum coming across the Brazilian outfit. Otavio's older brother, Matheus, sadly died in a motorcycle accident in 2022. The 22-year-old was riding his motorcycle in Crystal Palace when he was involved in a crash with a car. The pair had to visit the English capital during some of the worst days of their lives. And their thoughts turned to their Brazilian homeland, and some of the authentic dishes they used to love. 'When we were in London, we were just kind of looking for somewhere to go for food,' he recalls. 'The circumstances that we were in London weren't really the best, we weren't in a great mood, so we wanted to get something that would make us feel a bit happier.' The cafe boss added: 'We searched it up and luckily enough we were a 10-minute walk from a Jungle Berry spot. 'My mum and I found comfort in reconnecting with one of his favourite foods, acai, and from that moment, we knew we wanted to bring that joy to others. 'It brought back a lot of happy memories of when you're back in your country and around your friends and family. 'It was that moment we were like 'this is amazing – we really want to have this back home in Aberdeen'.' As the tastes transported him back to his homeland, Otavio knew he couldn't leave without finding the nearest one to Aberdeen. 'We didn't have any idea about this project, but I asked the person behind the counter and she said they didn't have any shops in Scotland, but they were always looking for different locations,' the acai aficionado said. 'Somehow, a few weeks later, we ended up with the phone number of the owner of the company.' And after a short deliberation with his mum, Otavio was right up for the job. 'We were just like 'yeah, let's do this. Let's bring Jungle Berry to Aberdeen',' he beamed. Having spent more than a decade in the industry in some of the city's most popular spots, the Brazilian is no stranger to the granite cityscape. And for him, Union Street is the place to be. 'My previous job that I just came out of was at Miller and Carter, so I've seen that there is footfall,' Otavio said. 'There are people that still come to go to the same place again and again like Miller and Carter. Because of the service and the quality, people do come back quite often. 'That just really showed to me that there is potential,' he added. 'It's just that there aren't enough options and from the people that I speak to on a daily basis, working in hospitality, they're saying that there's not enough options. 'People don't want to go to the same places, they want to try something new.' Otavio and his mum just opened their new superfruit cafe this week, with all hands on deck to add the finishing touches as quickly as they can. Jungle Berry will be offering up a taste of the Amazon to Aberdeen, focusing on the Brazilian superfruit acai – but offering much more too. 'We're not just serving acai bowls, smoothies and Brazilian snacks,' the man behind the plan said. 'Aberdeen's growing energy around city-centre regeneration is inspiring, and we're proud to be part of the movement that's helping to bring it back to life. 'We hope Jungle Berry can become a bright, joyful spot that reflects what's best about this city and the people in it.'
Western Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Western Telegraph
'Honeycomb' footbridge has been installed in Haverfordwest
The striking structure now spans Haverfordwest's Western Quay and Riverside, forming part of Pembrokeshire County Council's £25.4 million Heart of Pembrokeshire scheme to revitalise the town centre. The bridge, known for its 'honeycomb' design, was delivered in sections from a Cardiff workshop and assembled on site using a 220-tonne crane during a four-day operation beginning in May. Pembrokeshire County Council said at the time: "The bridge will be assembled and final finishing applied for installation in mid-August." Installation took place over the weekend of August 16 and 17, with footpath closures, diversions, and an exclusion zone in place to ensure public safety. The project has attracted criticism over its design and cost, with some councillors repeatedly raising concerns in council chambers. In April, both the council's Welsh Conservative group and the Independent Group called for further scrutiny of the decision to award the bridge contract. Councillor Di Clements, Conservative group leader, said: "Given its sizeable cost estimation and the high public interest in the matter, the Welsh Conservative group believe that this decision deserves full and proper scrutiny at committee level." The new bridge replaces the red and black arched footbridge that previously connected the Riverside to Western Quay, which has now been closed. Earlier this month, diversions were put in place to facilitate the final phase of installation. The bridge has been described as a 'signature' addition to the town and an 'Instagrammable' landmark, though it has faced ongoing scrutiny regarding its value for money and overall necessity.
Wales Online
7 hours ago
- Wales Online
Work to transform Welsh seaside resort toilets into restaurant complex takes major step forward
Work to transform Welsh seaside resort toilets into restaurant complex takes major step forward Work to transform the 100-year-old toilets at Nell's Point in Barry Island has faced a number of delays over the years, but work is now well underway Work is now well underway to turn the old public toilets at Nell's Point, Barry Island into a restaurant complex (Image: Lawray Architects) Work to transform a Welsh seaside resort's old public toilets into a restaurant complex has taken a major step forward. Next Colour, the company behind the redevelopment of the Grade II-listed former public toilets at Nell's Point, Barry Island, said work to secure the building's structural integrity and preserving its original features is now well underway. The firm, which is also responsible for the Oyster Wharf scheme in Swansea, has worked in partnership with Vale of Glamorgan Council to bring the 100-year-old toilet block back to life. Work to transform the site faced delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic and investigations into the structure's stability. It wasn't until earlier this year that the council announced work was finally ready to begin. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . Chief executive officer of Next Colour, James Morse, said: 'The roof is on and the building is now watertight and all of the windows for the new restaurant have also come out, so we now have a spectacular view. 'What we're doing now is preparing the flooring where we have the old 1920s terrazzo floor tiles – that are also in a really good state of repair – which means they can be used throughout the restaurant. 'We've been able to save a lot of the original woodwork internally as well, which is fantastic news and we hope to see more progress over the coming months.' Article continues below A number of businesses have already expressed an interest in opening outlets at the site, which includes a 4,000sq ft restaurant. The restaurant has been assigned to the coffee-bar chain Loungers, who have branches throughout South Wales, including in nearby Penarth, and the south east of England. Sat next to the Wales Coast Path, businesses located at the new complex are expected to enjoy 'stunning views over Whitmore Bay and the Severn Estuary', according to the council. Article continues below The leader Lis Burnett, said: 'It was brilliant to visit the site recently and see the incredible progress being made to restore the old public conveniences. 'This project is not only breathing new life into an iconic local building, but also forms a key part of our commitment to enhancing the already fantastic offer at Barry Island for everyone to enjoy.'
