Planning Committee to Hold Site Meeting at Manorbier

(From the Tenby Observer 24/02/06)


Night-firing plan: National Park to hold site meeting

Members of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority's development management committee have accepted an invitation from Manorbier Community Council to judge for themselves the noise impact that militarymissile firing; has on the village.

At Wednesday's meeting of the committee, it was agreed to hold a site meeting at the MOD's air defence range.

An application submitted to the Park Authority by the MOD seeks approval for firing during the hours of darkness at Manorbier's artillery range.

In light of the amount of objections raised, the authority has appointed a noise consultant to look into the matter before passing a decision.

"This submission has generated widespread objection and, as a result, I have commissioned an independent noise consultant to review the evidence submitted in respect of the proposal," explained development control officer, Mrs. Cathy Milner, who said that the authority had received a 400-signature petition against the application as well as another 30 individual letters voicing their concerns.

"The two main concerns raised by locals over the application point to the impact the night firing would have on tourism in the area and also the disturbance it would have on the sleeping patterns of children living nearby," explained Mrs. Milner.

"I have consulted with the Ministry of Defence estate's commandant, with Monday, March 6, put forward as a possible date for members to visit the site whilst daytime firing is expected to take place," Mrs. Miner said; adding that the noise consultant would also attend, thus enabling members to get a clearer scientific reading of what they were actually hearing.

"It's important that we make a real effort to attend this site visit, as I personally wouldn't want to vote on something that I couldn't actually say that I'd heard," commented committee member, Mr Elwyn Owen, with county councillor Michael Williams adding: "We should appraise to our best ability the noise impact the firing makes, and make every attempt to make
the right decision, as there is very strong feeling in the area regarding this matter.

It was agreed to hold a site meeting in Manorbier on March 6

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