A failed appeal against a refusal of decking at a Pembrokeshire village pub, installed after a child had near miss with a vehicle, could still see more traditional looking safety improvements installed, national park planners heard.
Last year, Kath Lunn, of the Hibernia Inn, Angle, sought retrospective planning permission from Pembrokeshire Coast National Park to keep wooden decking installed at the front of the conservation area pub that April.
Kath Lunn, in her application said the decking was erected following a near miss with a child on the adjoining road.
“There has always been bench seating there with umbrellas, but earlier this season there was a very close miss when a diner’s child ran into the road and was almost knocked down. We felt it our duty of care to the customers to make the area safe.
“We considered a brick wall but thought this decking would be more aesthetically pleasing being made of natural wood.”
Concerns were raised about the design by the park’s building conservation officer, who said: “The works clearly neither preserve the character or appearance of the conservation area, especially the latter.
“I am aware of the problems facing village pubs and the need to provide improved facilities – and the pub is clearly vital to the community.
“There is potential here for an alternative scheme whereby the front garden is enclosed by a traditional wall and the tables and chairs provided within a nicely landscaped frontage. That would be a gain from the original open tarmac area and hopefully would provide a viable option.”
It was refused by park planners recommended refusal on the grounds of the impact it would have on Angle’s Conservation Area.
An appeal against the decision was later lodged with the Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) but was dismissed in part on the grounds of visual impact.
The Inspector noted the owner’s willingness to discuss alternative approaches, along with the suggestion that a traditional wall may be more appropriate.
At the July meeting of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee, members heard an update on recent appeals against authority planning decisions, with the Hibernia Inn case mentioned.
Members were told that while the dismissal of the appeal was “a win” for the authority, there was “still a way forward” for the applicants through further discussions with officers, potentially with more traditional materials as previously proposed by the building conservation officer.
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