MEMBERS of Haverfordwest Town Council (HTC) will seek legal advice to challenge a decision to build a new housing development in Slade Lane.

Councillors raised concerns about February’s County Council planning meeting in which a controversial plan to build 24 homes was given the go-ahead.

Haverfordwest mayor Cllr Alan Buckfield, said he was “disgusted” with the decision.

“There is a good deal of local feeling about this,” he said.

“I don’t understand the committee’s reason for going against officers’ recommendation.”

The meeting has been reported to the Ombudsman by a member of the public but no issue was found.

Last year, the development had been given the green light on the condition that the applicant, Hillwest Limited, create nine off-road car parking spaces on part of a grassed area on Slade Lane.

This land was then subject to an application to become a village green.

The applicant amended its application to include these car parking spaces within the new housing site.

The recommendation of officers in February’s meeting was to refuse the plan due to traffic problems and a failure to provide affordable housing.

But following a heated discussion, the committee voted to approve the plans 8-7.

HTC members have since discussed ways to try to prevent building work from going ahead.

Cllr Peter Iles said: “It amazed me how the whole thing was conducted. It was as if it was being shoehorned through.”

Cllr Gillian Howell echoed his concerns: “I came away with the impression that some councillors could look at Google Maps for two minutes and therefore know more than officers.”

During February’s planning meeting, Cllr Stephen Joseph and Cllr Jacob Williams reported to the committee that images from Google Maps showed the road leading to the Slade Lane to be low on traffic.

“This road on Google Maps is quiet,” said Cllr Joseph, “there’s tons of space.”

Chairman of the Planning Committee, Cllr Peter Stock, has defended his decision to go against officer’s recommendation because the 2016 application was originally approved.

“I had to turn around and say, ‘What is the difference between the two applications?’ he said.

“We should be looking for ways to approve planning for housing, not looking for ways to turn them down.

“Wales is not meeting its targets for its housing needs.

“I have fought for the town and for the county and In 41 years I have never done anything that I felt was wrong.”

HTC also voted at their last full meeting to raise the issue with Pembrokeshire County Council chief executive Ian Westley.

Construction work at the Slade Lane site has already begun.