Park must take brave step to approve Bluestone (From Western Telegraph)

Park must take brave step to approve Bluestone

DEAR EDITOR, - David Lort-Phillips in his letter of July 9th, Park's Role Under Scrutiny, is right. This is a defining moment for the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park as it considers the Bluestone project planning application.

Pembrokeshire is used to bending to short-term national interests, whether it has been to provide the location for the intrusive Gulf and Esso refineries and Pembroke power station, the locality for RNAD Trecwn, RNMD Milford Haven and US Nafac Brawdy only for them all to close, without replacement, leaving disastrous economic consequences for the county.

Bluestone is an indigenous project that draws on the natural resources of Pembrokeshire and is far more likely to be sustainable. By comparison, it will not be intrusive.

I am confident the Park will approve the Bluestone project. My confidence is drawn from the way the Park has tackled two difficult planning decisions in St Davids where it has boldly relocated the St Davids Assemblies factory to underpin the future of a vital employer in the area and has built an outstanding visitor centre at the approach to the city.

Were the Park to refuse Bluestone it would be tantamount to consigning the people of Pembrokeshire to the role of human exhibits in a national museum.

DAVID LLOYD Felin Isaf, St Davids.