PEMBROKESHIRE planners are to visit the site of a proposed housing scheme after fears were raised a local nursery could be forced to close due to an increase in traffic along a narrow access lane if it goes ahead.
In an application recommended for approval at the June meting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, Sarah Voaden sought permission to build three houses at Llwynon, 61 St James Street, Narberth, in the town’s conservation area.
It includes an affordable housing contribution in the form of a financial sum of £38,156.25.
The site, just outside the town centre, is accessible from a private lane off Tabernacle Lane, located approximately 20m south-east of the Tabernacle Lane/St James Street Junction.
An officer report says: “Tabernacle Lane is narrow and has a pinch point of approximately 3.4m wide, located near the junction between the rear of 60 St James Street and the front of the garage of 61 St James Street. Tabernacle Lane is primarily residential with a childcare nursery located in a converted church/chapel on the corner of Tabernacle Lane and the private access lane. The private access lane serves two existing residential properties.”
Narberth Town Council has objected to the scheme on the grounds including insufficient access and highway safety, capacity to accommodate additional foul waste, the development being out of character, and an overdevelopment.
15 members of the public have also raised concerns, including parking and access, the suitability of the lane to accommodate the traffic associated with the additional residential properties, but no concern was raised by highways.
The report adds: “A nearby childcare nursery has indicated that it has a pick-up/drop-off area outside the front of the nursery (for approximately 10m along the private lane) and staff parking to the rear of an existing building (approximately 45m along the private lane). Outside of pick-up/drop-off times, traffic flow along the private lane is negligible.
“The Head of Infrastructure (Highways) has raised no objection to the use of the lane to serve the proposed development. The issues with traffic, congestion, parking and flows are considered by the Head of Infrastructure (Highways) to be associated with the nursery which has effectively operated without restrictions or a travel plan to date.”
Speaking at the meeting, agent Andrew Vaughan-Harries of Hayston Planning and Development ltd, whose father was a postmaster in the town praised “flourishing” and “vibrant” Narberth in weathering difficult financial times, with no empty shops.
He described the “vibrant” application as a “win-win-win” one which would use vacant land in a poor condition, enhancing the area, with the applicant also offering to resurface a narrow lane, along with an affordable housing contribution of some £38,000, contributing to “affordable housing in this vibrant town”.
Objecting to the scheme at the meeting, Hayley Bowlett of Noah’s Ark Child Care, which has 24 staff and 154 children enrolled, said the narrow lane to the nursery already created traffic issues, with construction traffic if the scheme was granted making the situation worse.
She said that would lead to a situation where the nursery’s legal standards needed for operation were contravened, placing it at risk of having to close.
“We’d leave 20 people without employment and 150 children with nowhere to go,” she told members, adding: “Health and Safety is the biggest concern for our children; children are walking up and down on a daily basis and would be at risk of any construction traffic.
“Are you willing to grant permission for three houses at the cost of 20 jobs? And a business in the community with 150 childcare spaces which is a crucial part of the infrastructure of Narberth.”
At the request of Cllr Danny Young, a call was made for a site visit ahead of a decision being made, with nine in favour, two against, and one abstaining.
The application will return to a future planning meeting.
