A PLAN to build a “local operations centre” on Welsh Water-owned land near Portfield Gate reservoir has horrified residents of the sleepy village.

The water company has applied for permission to erect a large building to house “staff facilities” and a “vehicle servicing and maintenance workshop”.

Locals feel the industrial development does not belong in a residential area, and claim Welsh Water is downplaying the amount of traffic and noise the facility could end up generating.

“Welsh Water owns larger sites in Pembrokeshire in industrial areas. We can’t understand the logic of building here. This is a quiet little village,” said a resident who asked not to be named. “Also, cyclists would be put at risk. A cycle path passes directly in front of the site entrance.”

Camrose Community Council is strongly against the plan.

“Families with young babies and people doing shift work live right in front of this site,” said Community Councillor Nicky Watts. “I drive lorries for a living, and this week I’ve been in the workshop twice. The amount of visits Welsh Water says its vehicles would make to the site just doesn’t add up.”

Mark Johnson, Welsh Water’s Head of Transport said: “The workshop will normally service one to two vehicles a day and the majority of these will be cars and regular sized vans. A small number of lorries will use the site for servicing, but this will be no more than one a week.

“We looked at a number of potential sites across the area and found this to be the most suitable to meet our needs. We will continue to work closely with Pembrokeshire Council to ensure our plans meet the conditions of the Local Development Plan.

“We held an information event in November to explain our plans to local residents.”

Councillor Jamie Adams has requested the application be referred to the Planning and Rights of Way Committee for decision, instead of being dealt with under powers delegated to the authority’s Director of Development.

The request will be discussed at a meeting of the Planning Delegation Panel tomorrow (Thursday).