Among matters considered and discussed at the September meeting of Amroth Community Council, which was again held online via Zoom, were the following:
Matters
Arising from the minutes
• The damaged bin removed from by ‘Bertie the Bass’ belonged to ACC and it so it was up to ACC to replace. It was agreed that the clerk contact the insurers about a replacement and investigate purchasing an additional one by the dog poo bag dispenser at the New Inn end of the village. Someone was using the dispenser as a bin!
• Another hole had been filled in by PCC along the stretch of road towards the New Inn and a new depression reported.
• The 351 bus service from Tenby to Pendine had a new timetable from September 1.
• Welsh Hearts Cymru had sent through details of how they could support ACC to acquire another defibrillator for Stepaside. This was discussed and the need for electricity queried. It was agreed that the clerk would contact Saundersfoot and Tenby First Responders who helped with the last two defibs that were installed for their advice. The clerk would also contact a resident of Amroth who it was thought also had experience of the provision of dfibs.
• Neil McCarthy (PCC) had confirmed that the fence surrounding the play area in Summerhill was the responsibility of ACC under the lease agreement. Clrs. Harvey and Harries updated councillors on the meeting that took place between ACC, representatives of ADCA and PCC. Some of the play equipment needed replacing and it was agreed with ADCA that Clr. Harvey would help with this project. A temporary repair could be carried out on the fence in the meantime. It was agreed that the clerk contact ADCA as to progress.
• The clerk had emailed the Road Safety Partnership asking for advice on how to limit speed on four roads in the community council area, but had yet to receive a reply. Councillors queried the remit of RSP and asked the clerk to investigate.
• Solar light on A477 junction to Amroth, opposite Pen Y Bont. The Trunk Road Agency again denied this request but stated that new signs would be installed on the junction with better reflecting surface so would be more visible at night.
• ACC had sent a request to PCC for paths in Stepaside and Pleasant Valley that qualify under S31 of the Highways Act 1980, be recognised as public rights of way. There was some additional paperwork to be completed. The landowner (PCC) and lessee (Heritage Parks Ltd) had both been informed of this request.
• Llanteg Hall Committee had reported that the plants and equipment from the Keep Wales Tidy award had been planted and installed. There were raised beds and plants at the Mountain Chapel and fruit bushes and three apple trees in the Old School Garden, along with a bird and insect box and bird table. Councillors expressed their gratitude for all the work that had been carried out.
• The Grow Share scheme set up in Summerhill bus shelter had finished for this growing season. The organisers had reported that it had gone very well and were keen to repeat the scheme next year.
• PCSO Jim Moffatt had moved to take up a position in Staffordshire. A letter of thanks was sent to him by ACC. He responded, thanking councillors for their support and friendship over the past few years
County
Councillor’s Report
The new normal: Pembrokeshire County Council was slowly and carefully re-opening its leisure and library services. As in the rest of Wales, schools had re-opened thanks to a major effort by teaching and other school staff to make the schools as Covid-19 safe as possible.
Although Pembrokeshire had been relatively fortunate compared to the rest of the country, in terms of the number of Covid-19 cases, the need for vigilance and social distancing remains acute. The Covid-19 virus must now be seen as endemic and a second wave of large-scale cases must be guarded against. The priority must be to keep our schools open so that the long-term prospects of the young are not permanently impaired. At the same time adequate protection must be given to the elderly, particularly those in care and residential homes. In addition, the needs of those requiring adult residential care or home assistance should be remembered in these difficult times
Council meetings are continuing to be held remotely. Such remote meetings are likely to continue until at least the end of 2020, but the possibility of hybrid meetings with some present in County Hall and the rest connecting remotely is being explored.
Heritage Park: As you are aware, the planning committee meeting on September 8 heard the application to vary the conditions set in the 2016 delegated decision to permit caravans on the north car park in Heritage Park. The committee decided that there should be a site visit, but officers have not yet consented to or arranged a socially-distanced site visit citing Covid-19. This is strange in that PCNP are conducting site visits with councillors and planning officials travelling in their own vehicles and conducting the visit while remaining two metres apart.
Heritage Park was supposed to be discussed at the cabinet meeting on September 14. However, this agenda item was pulled. The reason given was “Officers are investigating the recent commencement of development at Heritage Park and the council may be left with no alternative but to give consideration to instigating legal proceedings. In such circumstances it would not be appropriate for this report to be considered further at this time and the report is therefore withdrawn.”
I have been drawing PCC’s attention to the fact that the terms of the 2007 Heritage Park lease were not being adhered to for several years without effective action being taken. I have no doubt that the activities of the Stepaside/Pleasant Valley Residents Group helped prompt PCC action.
Planning
Jolly Haven, Starre Gorse, Pleasant Valley - Proposed single storey rear extension and roof alterations to create a part first floor. Conditionally approved.
Great Merrixton Bungalow, Stepaside - First floor extension to existing bungalow. Conditionally approved
Cherry Grove, Pleasant Valley - New detached garage/workshop building with storage/ ome office space above. No objection submitted/conditionally approved.
2Land at Clos Yr Ysgol, Stepaside - Residential development (outline with all matters reserved for future consideration). ACC were unable to identify material points on which to base an objection, so submitted comments highlighting areas of concern communicated by Stepaside residents.
Pleasant Valley House, Pleasant Valley - Change of use of guest house to two dwellings along with alterations and erection of car ports and a workshop. Conditionally approved.
3 Brookside Villas, Amroth - Creation of off-road parking for two vehicles to the rear. No objection submitted.
Summerhill Caravan Park - Workshop and Caravan Maintenance Building. No objection submitted.
6 Brookside Villas, Amroth - New vehicular access and associated creation of a raised platform for parking. No Objection
Heritage Park, Stepaside -Installation of bases for the siting of holiday lodges (which fall under the definition of a caravan), spa facility, holiday apartments, café and cycle hire, an equestrian stables, manège and associated office, main park office, car and cycle parking, residential garages, landscaping, access, retaining walls, foul and surface water drainage, related infrastructure and engineering work. Comments by October 7. The application was received only 24 hours before the council meeting and so the clerk would ask for an extension to allow councillors to read through all documents relating to the application and then discuss the application again at the meeting in October. Comments would then be drafted for submission. Comments would be circulated to Begelly/Kilgetty CC and Saundersfoot CC as Heritage Park lies across all three wards.
Notes: ACC submitted a response to the pre-application consultation from planning consultants, Lichfield’s, issued on behalf of Heritage Park. The comments sent were similar to the previous response to the first pre-application consultation, as there was little change in the proposal.
ACC’s chairman spoke in objection to the Heritage Park proposal for variation of condition 2 (relating to twin unit caravans) and 7 (relating to car park) of planning consent 11/0585/PA at the planning and rights of way committee on September 8.
Correspondence
• One Voice Wales had written to say they were producing a series of Best Practise Guides. The first had been published in August and was on Community Engagement.
• The application process is currently open for the appointment of community council member of the standards committee. Please note that applications are required by October 19 with interviews due to take place on November 3. The clerk has all the information.
• Interested in befriending in Pembrokeshire? Age Cymru Dyfed needs you!
Befriending Life Links is a new project that looks to match volunteers with older people who are in need of friendly support. The aim of the project is to support people throughout the three counties of Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, and Carmarthenshire to do the things they enjoy doing.
Volunteers are needed to support people in a variety of ways - from a regular telephone call to (once Covid 19 restrictions are relaxed) a home visit or providing company on trips out or social activities. If you are interested in getting involved or want more information, contact Befriending Life Links admin officer Emma Bingham at [email protected] Tel: 07415 721205
• A resident had written regarding the nuisance and potential health issues created by garden bonfires. They could cause quite major distress to people with breathing difficulties or asthma. Garden bonfires were becoming more of an issue with people burning household rubbish since the recycling scheme was introduced. The resident would like the council to be made aware of the problem.
• Volunteering matters are launching a fairly short-term pilot project looking for volunteers to become responders for older people who need a pendant alarm, but who may have no social or family connections and therefore cannot name anyone as their responder. Volunteer responders will be fully recruited by Volunteering Matters, with references taken up and DBS checks carried out. They will then be insured and trained prior to starting their role and volunteers will have the back-up of a local Volunteering Matters staff member. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact [email protected] or the ACC clerk for more information.
• A resident had written requesting a grit bin for Kilgetty Lane, Stepaside. A lot of water comes down the hill in winter which gets very icy in cold weather. She also reported an overgrown path. Clr. Cormack hd been in touch and walked the path in question. He was looking into the situation and would report back to the October meeting.
Bus Service through
the villages
Clr. Harvey reported that the new timetable offered a shorter route and restricted service. There is a limited and poorly timed service to Pendine and back and no onward travel to Carmarthen. The service to Tenby runs three times a day, but the last service back from Tenby is at 3.30 pm, so unsuitable for those with jobs in the town. What was a temporary reduced service now seems to be the standard service. This reduced service will lead to lower usage and so the service becomes unsustainable and is then cut.
Clr. Harvey went on to say that there was a half-hourly service from Tenby to Kilgetty some of which could be diverted via Amroth. Users could then connect with the Tenby service if needed. He felt, with a little thought, a small diversion could increase connectivity.
Residents are being asked to reduce car use, and planning applications have be refused as the site is not within an acceptable distance from a bus route and so the reduction or loss of a bus service impacts areas not just transport. It also adds to rural isolation, with a knock-on effect to wellbeing.
It was agreed that Clr. Baron would bring this to the attention of the cabinet member for infrastructure, Clr. Baker. for his comments.
improving awareness of Dog restrictions on Amroth Beach
The clerk had received a lot of communications and complaints regarding dogs being on the restricted section of the beach and people disregarding the signs. One sign was lost during a storm and this was being replaced by beach officer Myrddin Dennis.
Clr. Davies reported that St. David’s Town Council had set up a Beach Guardian scheme with volunteers wearing hi-vis jackets, pointing out dog restrictions on their beaches. She offered to find out more on how the scheme worked. In Saundersfoot, lifeguards put out flags indicating the restricted sections, although this was not their job.
A query was raised asking if beaches with dog restrictions were markedly cleaner than those without, assuming owners picked up after their dogs. The clerk would contact NRW who test water quality to find out if there were any statistics on this.
Councillors and the clerk would report back to the next meeting.
ownership of Common land/village Green
in Llanteg
Following a communication from solicitors Lewis Lewis & Co regarding ownership of land in Llanteg, research had been carried out. The land was legally registered as Town and Village Green on PCC’s Common Land register. Ownership woud not affect its designation as land held for public recreation and encumbered by a right of public access. The land was currently vested in the ownership of Crunwere Community Council, now incorporated into Amroth Community Council, pursuant to Section 8 (3) of the Commons Registration Act 1965.
The chairman proposed writing to Lewis Lewis & Co to set out the land status and ownership. This was agreed.
Amroth and District Community
Association
The hall was still closed at this time. The committee had met outdoors, and the Sewing Club was keen to restart. This would depend on Welsh Government regulations about numbers meeting inside.
Llanteg
Village Hall Committee
The hall had undergone a deep clean and distancing and hygiene posters had been put up. Welsh Government rules as to numbers meeting inside would mean that the hall would remain closed until this was lifted.
Project Updates
• Amroth Good Neighbours - Still active.
• Exercise Jantzen - The Imperial War Museum had opened so Clr. Harvey had resubmitted a request to use photographs of Exercise Jantzen on the information board. He was also looking at progressing the QR codes.
• Road names - Application for funding support had been drafted for the Enhancing Pembrokeshire Grant Fund.
• Amroth free WIFI - Clr. Cormack had heard back from DANFO who manage the toilets in Amroth. They had agreed to allow the use of the toilet building for a WIFI antennae. They had also agreed use of the electric supply and access to the service cupboard for WIFI equipment assuming a contribution culd be agreed. Clr. Cormack would contact the WIFI company about installation and would look at drafting a proposal for the Enhancing Pembrokeshire Fund.
Clr. Davies reported that DANFO do an excellent job in looking after and cleaning the toilets and proposed a letter of thanks be sent to the Head Office. This was agreed.
Urgent
Business not
on the Agenda
• The dog restriction sign on the gate at the top of the slipway was lost in the last storm. The clerk had informed PCC.
• Enhancing Pembrokeshire Grant applications must be submitted by December 2020 to ensure submission to the final panel in February 2021.
• Pembrokeshire had been chosen as one of the pilot areas for the government broadband upgrade funding for rural areas. Addresses can be checked to ensure they meet the criteria.
Funding to the value of £1,500 per residential house, £3,500 per business will be given to suppliers to install high capacity cables, but only once there is enough interest registered from an area - so the race is on to get all interested homes and businesses who want better broadband to register their interest. There is no cost to register.
• Request for a litter bin on the path from Colby to Amroth. This was National Trust land. A request had been sent to them.
• The Memorial Garden in Amroth needed tidying. Clr. Davies offered to weedkiller encroaching weeds. Councillors accepted this offer. The benches in the garden were also discussed. It had previously been agreed to move these benches to other locations in the ward and replace them with new benches. The clerk would request prices for new benches. Their position meant they did not need to be marine grade.
• Clr. F. Evans reported that there were two deep potholes on the junction to Pleasant Valley from Wisemans Bridge that needed attention. The clerk would report these
• Stepaside Play Park was cleared and brushed out by Clr. A. Evans and powerwashed by PCC.
• The grit bin had still not been installed at Staggers Hill, Stepaside. The clerk would write to Robert Evans at PCC asking for it to be installed before winter.
• Date of the next meeting of the community council is Thursday, October 22, at 7 pm. This will be via Zoom unless informed otherwise. Anyone wishing to observe online, please send your email address to [email protected]