RETROSPECTIVE plans by a Pembrokeshire councillor to extend his pub with a function room have been approved despite strong objection by his own town council.
In an application before Pembrokeshire County Council, Brian Rothero sought retrospective permission for alterations and extension to an existing store building to provide a function room ancillary to the Foresters Arms public house, Kensington Road, Neyland, with the construction of a linked corridor.
In his application, Mr Rothero, a member of Neyland Town Council, says: “This was an existing building (bar/store room) which required refurbishment due to it being outdated; it has always been part of the Foresters bar but was not used to its potential.
“An area of the roof was timber and perspex [which] had collapsed due to age this was replaced with a more substantial roof the building itself was then redecorated and modernised inside.
“Therefore, I am, or wish to, apply for retrospective planning.”
Neyland Town Council’s Planning Committee has unanimously objected to the proposal, stating: “Neyland Town Council Planning Committee have discussed this application, and it was unanimously voted that we do not wish to support [the planning application], as given that the application is retrospective, we are unsure if the current modifications meet building regulations, along with the reports included in the application stating that more information is required before approval.
“The committee are also concerned that the application submitted is not a true representation of facts, as the application states that this is a ‘renovation of an existing building’, however, this is untrue. Historically, this was an open yard, utilised as a beer garden. Therefore, the building is new and not previously existing.”
Pembrokeshire planning officers recommended the scheme be approved, a report saying: “In response to the issues raised by Neyland Town Council. The application has been submitted in retrospect in order to regularise the development. Building Control is separated to planning, therefore no comment can be made on compliance with current building regulations.
“The retrospective development is considered to be an extension to the existing Public House, which together with the former beer garden would have consisted of one planning unit.”
It said the application was accompanied by noise assessment which “concludes that the development would be unlikely to present adverse noise impact”.
The application was conditionally approved by county planners.
