Milford Mercury | Local News, Sport & Entertainment

Storm brews over motorpark

From the Milford Mercury, first published Thursday 28th Apr 2005.

THE COUNCIL cabinet's decision to buy land at Withybush, by compulsory purchase if need be, for a `motorpark' has become the first decision for three years to be called in for scrutiny.

Concerned at the decision, Lib Dem group leader John Allen enlisted cross-party support from Henry Jones (Ind), Kate Becton (Labour) and Moira Jones (Plaid Cymru), and has succeeded in getting the decision referred to the economy scrutiny committee.

Cllr Allen said: "I'm very surprised the leader of the council and his cabinet have approved this action.

"They did not explain why this farmland, which has not yet been approved in the JUDP, is needed in preference to the commercial land the council already owns at Withybush.

"Why use such draconian powers as compulsory purchase? And why was there no explanation of how this deal was to be funded?

"I can accept that there may well be a very good reason for the need for a motor retail park but I would like to know what research has been done to examine the effect on existing motor retail businesses in Pembrokeshire such as those established in Neyland, Pembroke Dock and Fishguard.

"I am surprised the vice chair of the economy committee, Cllr Ken Edwards, didn't share our concerns and sign the call-in notice as represenative of Neyland, which is one of the areas affected."

The owner of the land is widow Dilys Richards. She said the first she knew about the possibility of her land being compulsorily purchased was when she read about it in the press.

"I don't want to sell it" she told the Mercury.

"All this has come out of the blue. The council hasn't been in touch with me at all. It is causing me some worry, and I don't know what I should be doing about it.

"The fields have been let out to the same man for 20 years, for him to graze his sheep. He's a good man, and I want things to carry on the way they are."

During discussion leading up to the decision, cabinet member for small and medium-sized enterprises, Cllr David Simpson said that he was hearing on a weekly basis of garages, both within Pembrokeshire and without, who'd like to see such a facility established.

"We're desperately seeking a new site for Greens Motors" he said. "Mercedes Benz have got a temporary unit at the moment at withybush. "Honda have moved from Cardigan and taken out a temporary lease in Haverforwest in anticipation this is going to happen.

"If it doesn't happen in Haverfordwest, it will almost certainly happen in Carmarthen and it would be a sad loss to the county if that were to happen."

Archive Home