16 News


a ‘One Planet Development’ (OPD) which would have featured a zero- carbon dwelling was refused by Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC) on Tuesday (Jan 17). The proposed development –


A PLANNING application for Dan Muller Describing the application as dan.muller@herald.email


with a remaining 35% purchased using site-generated income. The OPD in question, for this reason,


which was initially discussed by PCC’s Planning Committee on December 12 last year and subject to a site visit on January 11 – would have seen a three– bedroom dwelling and accompanying barn, workshop, poly-tunnel and other auxiliary buildings constructed near Martletwy, Narberth. The proposed dwelling would have


also featured a ‘timber frame with straw- bail walls lined with clay and cladding timber’. In addition, all materials would have been sourced locally. The guidelines associated with a One


Planet Development differ from those of a regular planning application, given that it relies on applicants introducing sustainable and self-supporting measures - namely via food production, but also income, energy and waste assimilation. A five year period is given to reach these sustainability targets. One such essential


criteria of an OPD is that ‘at least 65% of all food needs of


occupants s h o u l d be met on-site’, or alternatively, that


mi n imum of 30% is met on si te,


would have also featured a vegetable garden area and a shrub and crop area, as well as ponds and strips of wildlife. The development at Martletwy,


while unlikely to meet such targets initially, was expected to reach ‘100% of food needs’ by year five. The application also looked to


approve an access track leading from a nearby minor highway, something which sparked considerable concern amongst many councillors. The Planning Committee went


on to address whether there was sufficient circumstances to overrule what are usually ‘strict controls over new dwellings’ situated in countryside locations.


Representing Martletwy Community


Council, and objecting to such a development, Cllr Phillip Eynon raised concerns over a stretch of hedgerow that applicants had intended to move. Cllr Eynon, who highlighted how


this hedgerow is ‘over 30 years old’, said: “The local community should have been consulted about any changes to this hedge before it was proposed to alter it.” The


Community


Councillor went to suggest that such a development ‘would be of little benefit’ to local economies and described how occupants would be ‘an extra burden


a


on local services’, drawing particular attention to health services. Cllr Robert Lewis was


‘It doesn’t seem very low impact to me’: Cllr Jacob Williams


first to raise concerns over a proposed access road; however, he also pointed to a lack of public transport access – something that OPDs must have access to in order to reduce occupants’ dependency privately vehicles.


on run


‘flawed’, he said: “You will have noticed its rurality and the fact that bus services unfortunately do not exist in this part of the world.” With this in mind, Cllr Lewis went


on to suggest that the development was ‘not in line with the One Planet development concept’, namely given the work and ‘hardcore aggregates’ involved in constructing the access road. While Cllr Brian Hall was quick


to emphasise that he did not think the development ‘was achievable’, he looked to highlight the likelihood that ‘if planning is refused it’s going to go to appeal and it’s going to cost money’. Cllr Hall added that he would support


approval ‘as long there is some kind of enforcement to check annually, to check after five years… ‘tough, you haven’t done the target, it’s got to go’ - that is the only guarantee I’m really happy with’. Cllr Hall went on to say how he had


‘a lot of faith in all our officers’, adding: “If we can’t follow the recommendation, what’s the point in us being here?” Cllr Tony Brinsden said: “I feel


extremely sorry for our planning department; they have great problems with this One Planet Development and I’m sure that under normal circumstances this would have been kicked into the long grass very early. “As has been mentioned by Cllr


Lewis, the cost of putting in the access road down to where they intend building is going to cost thousands and thousands of pounds.” Cllr Jacob Williams shared similar


concerns. Having previously argued that ‘surely the whole point of OPDs is that they’re low impact’, he went on to say: “It doesn’t seem very low impact to me, because that pathway will always be there even if the site is not productive.” In light of concerns raised by


councillors (nearly all of which planning officers had sought to allay on several occasions), Director of Development Dr Steven Jones requested the application be deferred, which would have enabled a further report to be produced on the development. Councillors voted against deferring


the application, and instead voted in favour of refusing the plans.


The Farmers Arms: An empty till was stolen THE THEFT of a till from a


popular Haverfordwest pub in the early hours of Sunday morning (Jan 15) is being investigated by police. Sometime before 9.20am on


Sunday, unknown persons gained entry to The Farmers Arms and stole a till which was next to the bar. Talking to The Herald, Mandy


John, who runs the pub, said she came in at 9.20am to clean up from the night before and noticed that the blinds had been disturbed on the window next to the bar, as well as a disturbed window seat.


She then realised that the window


was open and the till had been stolen. Thankfully, there was no money in the till overnight. After contacting the police,


she checked the rest of the pub for stolen items or damaged property


and discovered that the ladies toilet window had been smashed, which she thinks may have been an attempted entry point. The window was then boarded


up to preserve evidence and the pub opened later than normal at 1.30pm. She said she was in ‘complete


shock’ and the theft was ‘completely unexpected as no-one keeps money on the premises’. Despite the till being empty, the


pub still faces a financial impact due to the theft, as the window needed to be replaced and extra security will be implemented. Mandy told The Herald she expects the overall cost to the business to be over £1,000. Anyone with information


about the theft is asked to contact Haverfordwest Police Station, or call 101.


AM meets with CLA Director


THE HERALD FRIDAY JANUARY 20 2017


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PCC refuses One Planet Development Till stolen from pub


Local AM Paul Davies: With Rebecca Williams PRESELI PEMBROKESHIRE


Assembly Member Paul Davies has recently met with the Country, Land and Business Association’s (CLA) Director for Wales to discuss a number of rural policy areas and to learn more about the Association’s current priorities for Wales. CLA Cymru is a membership organisation for landowners, farmers and rural businesses across rural England and Wales. Mr Davies said: “I was delighted


to meet with the Country, Land and Business Association to discuss a whole range of issues facing rural communities and rural businesses in Wales. Rural Wales is facing


some serious challenges following years of neglect by previous Welsh Governments and, of course, there’s a degree of uncertainty surrounding Britain’s decision to leave the European Union. “That’s why it’s essential


that the Assembly encourages the Welsh Government to work with rural industries to facilitate new investment opportunities and remove barriers to rural productivity, for example, by reforming the planning system. As an Assembly Member for a rural constituency myself, I will, of course, continue to raise these matters and keep calling for the Welsh Government to give rural Wales the priority it deserves.”


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