Residents outline Haverfordwest Castle concerns over 'boutique hotel' plans (From Western Telegraph)

Residents outline Haverfordwest Castle concerns over 'boutique hotel' plans

6:40pm Saturday 11th February 2012 in County News

Residents have outlined their concerns about a potential boutique hotel at Haverfordwest castle during a public meeting.

People living around the historic landmark were so worried about what could happen to the castle, the former prison and Governor's House that they asked their local County Councillor Tom Tudor to call a meeting.

Cllr Tudor explained to around 30 people at the Mariners Hotel, that he was unable to reveal details in the private cabinet papers but he had asked that his concerns be outlined at that meeting.

The plan was discussed and announced by Pembrokeshire County Council last month.

Concerns about access using the narrow road leading to the castle prompted fears that the council may seek to compulsory purchase cottages on the road in order to widen it, said resident Phill Owen "In terms of time scale I don't think anything would be happening until this time next year but we need to be on the case now," said Cllr Tudor Those living around the castle have decided to set up a residents' committee and will be starting a petition to oppose the plan.

Cllr Tudor said he intended to table a Notice of Motion to council asking that the matter be discussed publicly after he was unable to gather enough signatories to call the decision in.

One resident, who would not give his name said: "Nothing can be said about possible development until a planning application is put in but what we have got is that statement [from the Council] which says it clears the way for such and such amounts to me as a decision made before any application."

Christine Whelton added: "Selling the inside the castle grounds and the castle itself, that to me is worse than those two buildings. They shouldn't sell them off for something like a boutique hotel, there are plenty of other cultural things this town needs. We're not utilising things as we could already, to not let it be used by tourists and residents is terrible."

Issues surrounding potential archaeological discoverers at the site were also discussed as were proposals to limit public access to noon to 3pm every day except Sundays.