January's meeting of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park planning committee was the last to be chaired by Jane Heard, whose term as an authority member finished at the end of the month.

Mrs Heard, who lives in the Gwaun Valley, has been a member for six years and has chaired the development management committee for three-and-a-half years.

One of five members appointed by the Assembly, she has not sought reappointment.

At the planning committee meeting, warm tributes to Mrs Heard's contribution, particularly as committee chairman during a time of high profile and difficult applications, was paid by committee vice-chairman, Richard Howells, and development management officer, Cathy Milner.

Mrs Heard's final duty as chairman was to welcome three new members of the planning and development plans staff who joined the authority in recent weeks.

The new faces are: principal planning officer David Green, who previously worked for Carmarthenshire County Council; planning officer Caroline Phillips, who has returned to her career after a family break, and planning officer Julie Kirk, who has joined from Pembrokeshire County Council.

David has taken over responsibility for the south Pembrokeshire area, from Angle to Amroth, while Caroline works throughout the National Park area. Julie has joined the development plans section, concentrating in particular on the Park's landscape policies.

The new staff members bring the planning and development plans sections up to full complement after a considerable period of working below strength due to staff ill health and vacancies.

During that time planning applications have risen steadily, and reached over 700 in 2004.