A decision on a £200,000 conversion of a Pembrokeshire village former public house, on which officers wanted to see removed chimneys reinstalled, has been given a breathing space so councillors can view the building.
In an application recommended for partial approval at the June 30 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, Craig Kidney sought permission for the removal of chimney stacks and construction of front porch and retaining garden wall at the former Carpenters Arms pub, Cosheston.
The application was for committee consideration as it has been made by or on behalf of a close family member of a member of the council.
It was previously due to be considered by committee in April and June, being withdrawn from both meetings.
It was subject to a split recommendation, approval for the porch and retaining wall, but refusal for the retrospective removal of the two chimney stacks on the basis “the removal of the chimney stacks has had a harmful impact on the character and appearance of this part of the Cosheston Conservation Area, creating harm to visual amenity and the historic environment”.
No objections had been received from Cosheston Community Council, but two letters of objection raised concerns including the impact of proposal on historic character and Conservation Area, and the changes being unauthorised.
Speaking at the meeting, agent Andrew Vaughan-Harries of Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd, who had only taken up the application the previous week, said the applicants were a teacher and plumber who had spent some £200,000 renovating the “run-down property,” the chimneys demolished after advice they were unsafe.
Mr Vaughan-Harries questioned the “legality” of the application forms, saying the paperwork accompanying the scheme was incorrect.
He also said that, while the two chimneys had been removed, there was “a great whopping” chimney at the rear, restored at a cost of some £5,000, adding that while “two wrongs don’t make a right” other chimneys had been “quietly” removed from properties in the conservation area without any objections; suggesting members attend a site visit to view the property prior to any decision.
Officers disputed the planning form was incorrect.
After debate on the merits or otherwise of chimneys in buildings in conservations areas, Cllr Simon Hancock, who is also Dr Simon Hancock curator of Haverfordwest Museum, said he had been reading around the importance in chimneys in a historical context.
Describing Cosheston as “one of the gems of south Pembrokeshire,” he said he had no problems with the conversion, but felt that “the chimney stacks ought to be replaced,” moving the split approval proposed.
At the behest of Cllr Tony Wilcox “in the interest of natural justice” where “99.9 per cent of the village had no issues whatsoever” with the removal of the chimney stacks, members voted for a site visit ahead of any formal decision, which was supported by seven votes to five.
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