Manorbier.com
Community Council Meeting - Tuesday 7th January 2003
Planning Application - Celtic Haven
Due to the attendance of the applicant Mr Phillip Evans of Celtic Haven who wished to speak about the application, it was proposed by Councillor Calver that the item be the first to be discussed. Mr Evans had previously refused the Community Council permission to hold the site meeting on the Celtic Haven complex to discuss the application. As a result the meeting had to be held in the lay-by overlooking Caldey Island.
The concerns of local residents who attended the site meeting were put forward by Councillor Calver. These concerned the parking by clientele of the establishment, the difficult access to the site and the use of the existing establishment by casual diners. Mr Evans intimated that the complex was running at present with no visitors and a staff of twenty after the investment to date of 2.5 million pounds by the family. The conference centre facility, if granted would accommodate 40 people and would create an additional twenty full time jobs. On the point regarding dangerous access on the back road to Lydstep Haven, Mr Evans stated 4500 potential site residents were already using this route and his establishment which catered for a different type of clientele would be for a maximum of 150. Councillor Thompson stated she found there was no problem with visibility at the existing back road access whether she was entering or leaving from the direction of Tenby or Jameston. Mr Evans stated that his current planning permission allowed him to use whichever point he wished to gain access, namely both the accommodation complex at the rear or the function centre at the front. Councillor Calver felt the front access was safer as it provided the best vision for drivers entering and leaving the main road. Mr Evans stated that the diners at the restaurant did not have to be using the other complex facilities and the only condition was that the meals had to be pre-booked. The illegal parking in front of the establishment that had occurred during summer 2002 was to ensure disabled visitors had easier access to their premises. On the question of introducing of traffic calming measures on the boat road Mr Evans said he was not in a position to do anything about this as he did not own the road.
Tourism Growth Area Steering Group - TGA
Councillor Calver who had been nominated by the Community Council to be their representative on the Tourism Growth Area Steering Group informed the council that the meeting to appoint community representatives had been poorly organised. He had not attended the meeting because by the time he was informed of the date of the meeting it had already taken place. He had seen a copy of the minutes of the meeting (click here - to see the TGA minutes ) in which it is stated that copies of the minutes of the initial meeting would be forwarded to community councils and he was expecting the clerk to have had a copy. Councillor Brown from Tenby Town Council had asked Erica Fielding ( Pembrokeshire County Council ) for an extension of time to nominate representatives but this had been denied. County Councillor Folland stated at the inaugural meeting that he had hoped that a number of community councillors would have been represented. Councillor Morgan felt that as we do not now have input it would effectively deny the Manorbier Community Council knowledge of any proposals and that a letter should be sent to Pembrokeshire County Council.
Gate at Jameston Play Area.
Mr Griffiths informed the council that the gate for the play area was ready for collection. Mrs Griffiths said that Mr Griffiths did not want to erect the gate. Councillor Calver pointed out that whoever the council nominated or asked to tender for its erection should be informed of possible electric cables under the proposed gate position.
Audit of Council Accounts
Councillor Sharland the Financial Officer responsible for Manorbier Community Council had been contacted as under the old system it had been her responsibility to carry out the audit. Councillor Calver asked the clerk when she had contacted Councillor Sharland because she had not been at meetings recently to which she replied she had gone to her house. Councillor Sharland was at this stage not willing to carry out the financial audit so it was decided to ask a member of the public to take on the responsibility.
Manorbier Village Notice Board.
A new notice board with a lock and key will be erected outside the Parish Hall. The clerk informed the meeting that it will strictly be for the use of the parish council and no other parties.
Site Meeting on proposed footpath from Jameston to Manorbier Primary School
Councillors Morgan and Calver reported back to the council regarding the meeting of the previous day and held outside Penuel Chapel - following Mr Tony Wales proposal to provide safe access to the school.
Attending the Meeting were: Councillor Morgan, Councillor Calver, J Price ( Pembrokeshire County Council Engineer), Mr Gobbi,( Pembrokeshire County Council Road Safety Officer), Nicholas Ainger MP, Mrs Greenhouse, Mrs Harvey, Bill Phillips, Tony Wales, Local landowners, Mr and Mrs Furlong and Mrs Moss parents and residents of Jameston.
Mr Ainger gave a brief outline to those attending on the progress so far. Mrs Greenhouse stated the maximum number of children currently affected was eight. Councillor Calver pointed out that the amount of children affected should not detract from the importance of the proposed project namely the danger of the situation faced by both parents and children using the main road. He did not wish to see the numbers involved being a deciding part of whether this section of road was dangerous from a traffic point of view. He, himself, had to slow right down on many occasions when faced with traffic coming towards him from the opposite direction. Mrs Greenhouse said road safety had been discussed in all but two of the governors meetings in the twelve years she has been headmistress. When Mrs Greenhouse was asked if she had specifically raised concerns about this section of road she replied that the concerns she had raised was about children attending from the whole area. Councillor Thompson, who said she did not know about the meeting, asked had anyone raised concerns regarding the provision of a footpath on the road to Baldwins Moor as she felt this was more dangerous section of road especially for the children of Skrinkle. Councillor Calver pointed out that there was an alternative road to the school through the village for children from Skrinkle which posed a lesser risk and was no further to school. Councillor Thompson then stated that if the parents were that concerned about walking along the main road they should use the Kiln House Lane route to school. The clerk then read out a letter from Mr Wales to the community council regarding the site meeting - and which is reproduced for Manorbier.com - Click Here
Councillor Griffiths replied that she was not prepared to comment on the letter other than to say she had had an important meeting with Mr Bryn Parry Jones Chief Executive Pembrokeshire County Council during a cabinet meeting that morning. Mr Wales intervened from the public gallery that this was just a disgusting excuse. Mrs Griffiths then said she had had the road video recorded by Huw Roberts from Pembrokeshire County Council. Councillor Calver felt that a letter from Councillor Griffiths explaining her absence but giving her full support to the project should have been sent to the site meeting. Councillor Thompson proposed that no reply be sent to Mr Wales after the council had received his letter. Two letters were received from the headmistress, one a copy of a letter sent to PCC dated September 2001 and the other one sent after the site meeting. Councillor Calver informed the council the Road Safety Officer Mr Gobbi seemed confused and could not remember ever receiving a letter from the school. Councillor Griffiths responded by saying Mr Gobbi could not even remember if he was a member of the road safety committee or not. Councillor Griffiths was then asked to provide the names of the governors of the school replied that she was not prepared to name them at this stage as she did not wish them to receive correspondence on this issue. Councillor Thompson said she used to be a governor. At the site meeting when the attendance at school was raised the headmistress informed Mr Ainger that the school was barely complying with the minimum legal requirements at present due to the children arriving by the existing bus timetable to which Mr Ainger expressed his surprise. Both Councillor Griffiths and Thompson retorted this was poppycock as he was fully aware of the situation and he should "pull the other one as it had bells on". Councillor Morgan felt that there was little scope for the bus company to alter the bus timetable. The clerk informed the council that although Sgt. Miles had been informed of the site meeting and she had received confirmation from him that he would be attending the site meeting - he did not make an appearance. He had since informed her that he had thought the meeting was arranged for 7 pm in the evening in the lay-by. It was decided that the council should ask Sgt. Miles to attend the next Community Council meeting to discuss the issue.
Inspection of Manorbier Community Council Property
Councillor Morgan had carried out an inspection of the Community Council properties.
Press Reports
The clerk who had asked for this item to be placed on the agenda had received complaints on the quality reports of council meetings displayed in the local papers. Councillors Morgan and Thompson were of the opinion that the reports sent to the press need not be the accurate and full minutes agreed by the council as there was no need to inform residents regarding who attended meetings or what time they arrived. Instead they felt that just a brief description was necessary. Councillor Calver felt that the reports should be full and accurate as it was essential that the residents be informed that the councillors they had elected to the Community Council attended meetings regularly and on time and to take a full part in the discussions and decisions.
Manorbier Community Association
Councillor Morgan said that the association had received a £4000 lottery grant to purchase a photocopier for community use. Councillor Calver asked where the copier would be kept to enable residents of the community to access it. Councillor Morgan then stated it would not be for general use by the community.
Overhanging Trees at War Memorial
A letter was received from Owen and Owen, the agents for the Castle Estate informing the Council that they would be carrying out the work necessary to resolve the problem concerning the overhanging trees. Councillor Calver queried what had happened to the works that Owen and Owen, on behalf of the estate, had agreed to carry out several years ago which would have enabled the beach to be seen from the village again. A letter was to be sent to the agents regarding this issue.
Waste Recycling Facilities
Correspondence was received from Manorbier Newton Community Association informing the Council that there was no suitable areas to position recycling facilities in Manorbier Newton.
Conservation Area Group
Mr Mcabe had written to the Council with suggestions regarding who should sit on this group. Councillors Griffiths and Thompson proposed that this should not be taken on board and there should be another public meeting arranged to formulate a committee.
New Footpath and Access to Future Housing Development in woodland opposite Manorbier School
Councillor Calver raised several points on this subject after being approached by concerned residents. Councillor Thompson after being prompted declared an interest in the subject raised but was not prepared to leave the discussions.
Concern had been raised over the cutting down of a mature woodland for no apparent reason. Councillor Thompson intimated that this was not a woodland just overgrown stock. The remedy to prevent the parking of cars on the new footpath because the road had not been widened sufficiently suggested by Councillor Morgan was for Pembrokeshire County Council to provide bollards.
Councillor Calver proposed that Pembrokeshire County Council be asked to purchase the land for a car park and turning area for parents dropping children at school, as now a new access had been provided by them into the woodland. Councillor Thompson described the area as "not a woodland just overgrown stock". Councillor Thompson stated she was not prepared to sell the land. Councillor Ms Beynon then suggested that she would like to see a one way system for cars provided around the school by utilising the lane at the entrance to the school house.
Councillor Griffiths would not like to see money taken out of the Pembrokeshire County Council's schools budget to provide these facilities. Councillor Calver`s proposal to contact Pembrokeshire County Council by letter was seconded by Councillor Morgan.