A CALL to regularise the conversion of a Pembrokeshire village pub, which became unviable due to changes in the hospitality industry as a result of the Covid pandemic, to a house has been submitted.
In a partly retrospective application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Ms G Key, through agent Evans Banks Planning Limited, seeks permission for the conversion of the former Taberna Inn and associated flat, Herbrandston Village, Milford Haven, to one residential dwelling.
Work started in March 2021 but has not been finished, the current application to regularise the situation.
A supporting statement through the agent says: “We understand that the property was purchased by the applicant in November 2020 and operated for four months as a public house on the ground floor.
“The property has therefore remained closed as a public house since that date and only used for residential purposes by the applicant. This current application therefore seeks to regularise the situation and enable the properly to be used as a single residential dwelling.”
It says the loss of the pub to the village will not be felt as strongly as elsewhere as Herbrandston has an alternative venue, Herbrandston Hub, which opened in February 2020, and acts a successful community venue and centre for the settlement’s sports teams.
“The use of the application site as a public house is therefore no longer required, and, as has been experienced by the applicant, not commercially viable,” the statement says.
It adds: “The Pandemic had and continues to have many impacts on people’s lives and also their livelihoods, no more so than in the leisure and hospitality industries. With socialising patterns having now changed, many village public houses have found it impossible to continue to operate at anywhere near a viable level.
“Notwithstanding the above, whilst many villages in rural parts of Wafes have lost their one and only public house, Herbrandston is lucky in that there continues to be a vibrant location for its population to socialise, in the form of the Herbrandston Hwb.
“The application proposal will therefore not have a negative impact on the existing community facility and its loss will not reduce the current level enjoyed by the local population.”
It says the change of use will also lead to less traffic generation and potential disturbance for local residents.
The application will be considered by park planners at a later date.
