Residents in Goodwick have expressed concerns at an application to drill boreholes in Fishguard Harbour 24 hours a day, seven days a week, over a period of two to three months.

Conygar Investment Ltd, the company behind the proposed marina development and port improvements in Goodwick, have submitted an application to Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to drill 32 boreholes in the bay, some up to 25 metres deep.

The application is for drilling to start on January 5. However a Conygar spokesman said it was not likely to start until the following month.

Drilling at each borehole is estimated to take an average of two days to complete, working on a 24/7 basis.

A number of the holes are less than 500 metres from houses and businesses in Goodwick.

"This is three months of nobody getting any sleep in Goodwick," said one concerned resident who did not wish to be named. "It's going to have a huge impact on the twin towns. Suitable noise mitigation measures should be put in place."

Goodwick county Councillor, Gwilym Price, said that Conygar should provide a noise impact assessment.

"The work has got to be done to develop the harbour, this is the start of the development which is great," he said.

"But Conygar has to ensure that the disturbance is kept as little as possible and people aren't too badly affected by it."

Norman Cox, technical director for Conygar's engineers, said that the drilling would be intermittent and would probably last for less than a month.

"There will be some noise as different processes are used," he said. "I wouldn't expect it to be a problem, it is not significantly worse than the noise from the port."

He said that the 15m square jack up rig should be fitted with noise insulation and floodlights would be aimed directly at the work area. He said that details of the expected noise levels had been sent to NRW.

The application and plans are available to view in Fishguard Library. Members of the public have until January 9 to make representations or objections to Natural Resources Wales by e-mailing marinelicensing@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk and quoting reference number RML 1462.