Castle alterations to go before planners (From Western Telegraph)

Castle alterations to go before planners

9:30am Wednesday 16th May 2012 in County News

Two applications for alterations and improvements at Carew Castle will go before Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority today (Wednesday).

The applications, which are both recommended for approval, have to be discussed by the development management committee as the applicant is the national park authority, which leases the castle from the Carew Estate.

The proposals are for the demolition of the visitor centre, extension and change of use of the existing store building to provide visitor reception, shop and toilet and the resurfacing of the current car park, which are part of a wider series of improvements for which funding has already been secured.

The plans to extend the walled garden workshop also include the removal of the two portable buildings on the site.

The application states that the intention of the improvements is to “manage visitors to the site, control access, security, payment, visitor orientation and overall visitor operations.”

It adds that the walls of the walled garden will “enclose”

and screen the buildings within, making them “virtually invisible to the visitor at ground level.”

The works to the car park, which already has planning consent for its use, seeks to resurface it from grass to stone “to make it more durable throughout the year.”

The car park will also be the location of a compound for the contractors, with works intended to be carried out between June 21st and October 1st to avoid disturbance to bats and a temporary roof to cover the lesser hall to allow work to continue in bad weather.