Bluestone project takes a major step forward (From Western Telegraph)

Bluestone project takes a major step forward

TWO giant steps towards the creation of a world class tourist attraction in the heart of Pembrokeshire were taken last week.

On Wednesday, the National Assembly's Economic Development Minister, Andrew Davies, announced £16.5 million funding support for the Bluestone Experience.

And the following day William McNamara, chief executive of the project, handed in an extensive file of plans and documentation to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and Pembrokeshire County Council. The £45 million development - which promises to bring 600 full-time jobs to the county, hundreds of indirect jobs and an annual £22.4 million boost to the local economy - will include a holiday village of authentic log cabins, a traditional Celtic holiday village, sports centre, sub tropical waterworld, and a unique real ski-slope and snow world.

The aim is to create an all-year round Pembrokeshire experience drawing in the county's existing tourist trade, including accommodation providers, attractions, arts and craft and produce.

The project has been pledged £10 million regional selective assistance, £3 million from the Welsh Development Agency, a £2 million loan from Finance Wales, and £1.5 million from the Wales Tourist Board. None of the money is from the Objective One fund.

The remaining financial backing will come from five equity partners, including three major banks.

Philip Evans, chairman of the Wales Tourist Board, said: "This is an important step to establishing yet another world class tourism product in Wales. Waterworld project will be open to all visitors to Pembrokeshire, not just to guests of the holiday village."

He added: "The Wales Tourist Board was encouraged to give its support to this project based on the fact that it will be of huge benefit to the wider tourism community, which is comprised mainly of small partnership companies."

Mr McNamara commented: "I feel genuinely humbled at what has been offered and I want to give a heartfelt assurance to the people of Pembrokeshire and Wales that I will take this responsibility very seriously indeed."

He added that it was pure coincidence that the funding announcement was made on the day before the submission of the plans.

"We saw officers from both authorities and we hope that there will be a solution-focused approach," he said.

"From the Bluestone perspective, the handing over of this application is just the beginning of another journey. We have spent well over a year in consultation with the authorities and their consultees and we have incorporated a number of issues into the scheme that weren't there originally."

What has cropped up is an interesting debate over what is described as the 'local vernacular'.

Part of the Bluestone development will be 600 high quality timber chalets - 400 will be built in the first phase - and these will be sourced from European wood produced under the highest forestry standards.

"We have been told these are not in the local vernacular. But then it has to be pointed out that 66% of all Pembrokeshire's self-catering bed spaces are static caravans," said Mr McNamara.

Spokesmen for both planning authorities said they were unable to comment on the plans, but their officers would be preparing reports which would be put forward for consideration at future meetings.