Last year, Save Saundersfoot Coal Office campaign was successful in voicing supporters' objections to the proposals being considered to demolish the Coal Office and its adjoining gardens to provide additional car parking spaces to the existing harbour car park.

The campaign unfortunately, now has concerns regarding Pembrokeshire County Council's [PCC] revised proposals for the Barbeque Lawn. Following a meeting of their Cabinet on March 16 and a subsequent meeting of the Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee on March 19, PCC propose the eventual sale of the Coal Office and the garden known as Barbeque Lawn to Saundersfoot Harbour Commission [SHC] as part of the programme for the harbour front regeneration scheme.

SHC have sought additional loan facilities from PCC for the regeneration plans, bringing their total borrowing facility with the county council to £1.5m. The development of the Coal Office and garden area [Phase 3] is now referred to as 'Ocean Square Development'. The aim of the regeneration plan is to create a 'Centre for Coastal Tourism in Wales' and with a total project value [Phases 1, 2 and 3] estimated between £4.5/5million, it is projected to create 59.5 jobs.

It is proposed to restore the Coal Office as an all year round visitor centre and café. The relocation last year of the Tourist Information Centre within the Library facilities, located in the Regency Hall, saw a significant decrease in visitor enquiries compared with those of previous years. The Coal Office is a more appropriate, central location for such a facility. The campaign would hope that the external identity of the Coal Office will not be lost in restoration of the building.

It is also proposed to provide 10 new retail/commercial units, accommodation facilities [20 rooms], covered 'village square' plaza for events, markets, community uses etc., and cycling hub.

Both the Sensory Garden and Barbeque Lawn are appropriated as open spaces under the Open Spaces Act 1906. As such, they are afforded a level of protection, being designated open spaces in a conservation area. The Sensory Garden is to remain, leased by Saundersfoot Community Council. However, PCC intend to re-appropriate the Barbeque Lawn before it can be sold to SHC. This garden area would no longer have the classification of an open space and could therefore be subject to future development.

The legislative procedure, which PCC has to follow before this can be achieved, has already commenced. In last week's edition of the Tenby Observer, PCC announced their intention to sell an area of land forming the gardens [Barbeque Lawn and Sensory Garden?] to SHC for the purpose of facilitating the regeneration of Saundersfoot harbour front.

The community of Saundersfoot are again not being fully informed of proposals for what would be a major re- development of the village centre. It is therefore assumed, and quite possibly incorrectly assumed, that the Barbeque Lawn is to be utilised in some way for the development of 10 retail/commercial units, 20 room accommodation facilities and village square.

The Barbeque Lawn is a valued open space within the centre of the village. Managed by PCC, it provides a vibrant floral display; picnic lawn area with suitable seating; and public access is free. The lawn is popular as a picnic area, especially with visiting families to the area. It is an area which has been used by the public for in excess of 20 years and in effect is our equivalent of a village green.

It is also an area which has been utilised to stage important village events and is the location for three commemorative trees planted by visiting and local dignitaries on the occasion of the 50th anniversaries of the D-Day Landings, VE Day and VJ Day in memory of those who lost their lives during World War II. The campaign would ask supporters to contact Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority [PCNPA] with a request for a Tree Preservation Order to be placed on each of the three commemorative trees.

Objections to the intended disposal by PCC of the area of land forming the gardens to SHC should be submitted in writing by Friday, May 15, to: C. Incledon, Head of Legal and Committee Services, Pembrokeshire County Council, County Hall, Haverfordwest, SA61 1TP.