Residents' anger at LNG accommodation plans (From Western Telegraph)

Residents' anger at LNG accommodation plans

ANGRY residents say they feel let down by Pembrokeshire County Council after a plan to allow 220 LNG workers to move onto the former Dowty factory site was approved.

The controversial application, for three years' accommodation at Thornton, was passed by 12 votes to seven, despite 20 letters of objections and a 27-signature petition.

Local member, councillor John Cole, appealed for members to reject the application, citing concerns over anti-social behaviour, increased traffic and potential sewerage problems.

Councillor Moira Lewis echoed these concerns and said that it would set a bad precedent. "We would be setting up a shanty town on the outskirts of Milford Haven," she added. Cllr Cole claimed the LNG plant would generate more than 100 vehicles travelling daily to and from the site compared with 15 to 20 that would have been on the Dowty site at any one time.

He added that while Welsh Water had not objected to the plan, they had previously said they did not have the facilities to cope with smaller developments in the area.

Cllr Pearl Llewellyn felt these camps were necessary as local people were already being forced out of rented accommodation by landlords who know they can get more money from construction workers.

Cllr Brian Hall dismissed suggestions that LNG workers could be accommodated on LNG sites, saying it is against Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) regulations. Two CCTV cameras will be installed as part of the application.

Derek Critcher, Steynton Environment Committee chairman, said afterwards: "We feel the upper house county council has completely ignored our point of view. We are going to have to deal with a constant stream of pick and shovel men going past our homes after a night at the pub. Our prime concerns are traffic, pollution, noise and anti-social behaviour."

Since the application was approved BER Holdings of Ashdale Lane, Llangwm, has applied to create a temporary residential caravan site on a neighbouring industrial unit.

SEC members fear this will further stretch local ammenities and aim to lodge objections before the closing date of August 18th.