Tenby Civic Society have stated that they are opposing the Brynhir development plans in their current form, after outline planning proposals were submitted to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.

The outline application put forward by Pembrokeshire County Council for the land at Brynhir, with all matters reserved for 102 affordable residential units, eight shared ownership residential units and 34 open market residential units together with associated access, drainage and landscaping, is due to come before the National Park’s development management committee meeting on Wednesday, July 31.

However, it is being recommended to committee members by the planning case officer that a site meeting be undertaken on Monday, September 2, due to the proposals being a ‘major development’ in Tenby and of public interest.

Responding to the plans a spokesperson for the Civic Society said in correspondence that went before members of Tenby town council last week that: “We are opposed to this application in this form; as the following matters of strategic design for the site have not been addressed and remain unsatisfactory” before stating that the proposal needed a number of ‘improvements’.

The Civic Society have raised issues with entrance access to the proposed development, pointing to the need of a central lane on the A478 for northbound right turns into the site.

“There are several such centre lanes just yards north along the A478, some to sites smaller than this, and one was included to access a site for only 30 houses proposed yards south of this site,” explained a Civic Society spokesperson, stating that ‘peak summer queuing problems’ are not addressed, with the plans not including a ‘turning movement’.

The Society also states that southern sections of the site will need more skyline screening trees, and not the removal of most of the existing trees as the layout proposes.

“The application seeks to use the views from the southern site section; two and three storey buildings will clearly be on the ridge skyline that defines the natural setting of Tenby,” continued the spokesperson.

“The tree survey is welcome and identities a high percentage of trees as ash, with associated ‘die back’ concerns; suitable replacements are indicated, but the plan has no policy for phased action.

“Either a clearer relation between layout proposed and the location and RPA’s of existing trees and hedges is made, or a commitment given to replace all trees and hedges removed.

“Natural Resources Wales required a hedgerow survey and we are also concerned at the loss of the northern lane and its hedges across the top of the main site.

“The applicant could pursue separate discussions with residents about making the woodland or the Green Wedge available as informal open space, to replace that to be lost and aid the value appreciation and protection of either green area.”

The Civic Society are also asking for foot and cycle links onto the Cycleway of Slippery Back to be included for leisure and reduction of car use; and for the proposals to specify the proportion of housing for council or housing association through rent to local allocations, stating that the increase in holiday let takeover of housing in Tenby was ‘hollowing out’ the town of local residents.

The Civic Society’s recommendations have been put forward to PCNPA to consider.

Members of Tenby Town Council gave the thumbs up to the outline plans at their meeting last week.