Group to be set up following Fishguard marina meeting (From Western Telegraph)

Group to be set up following Fishguard marina meeting

3:10pm Saturday 2nd March 2013 in News

A formal group seeking some influence on the course of Fishguard and Goodwick’s proposed marina development will be set up, following two public meetings last Friday.

The afternoon meeting attracted around 150 people, including AM Simon Thomas and the mayor and the deputy mayor of the twin towns. There was standing room only in the packed function room. Around 50 more locals attended an evening meeting.

Developer Conygar, which had been invited, did not attend either event.

The meeting was held by members of the twin towns who felt that there might be inadequate understanding of the realities of the development and that there should be some forum for residents’ views.

“Good planning practice states there should be a liaison between the developers and the community to discuss proposals,”

said chairman Moira Lewis.

“This has not happened and this meeting is an attempt to remedy that.”

At both meetings, brief presentations were made outlining possible advantages of the development as well as foreseeable issues and uncertainties. Then the meetings were thrown open for public discussion.

Many participants at the afternoon meeting were not opposed to the concept of a marina, but questioned what the 19 acre ‘future development platform’ would be used for, as well as expressing concerns over sewage both from the proposed apartments and boats, and questioning whether marinas in Neyland and Milford Haven had been good for the towns.

Other issues raised were whether a dredged channel would silt up, the shortfall of dredged material to create the future development platform, the possible creation of a marine academy, and local jobs and sailing opportunities.

Nearly a third of attendees said they would like continued involvement with the planning process.

To that end a future meeting will be held to formally constitute a group.