At the December meeting of Pennar and Bufferland Community Association, the following matters were discussed:

Speeding drivers beware: Clr. Maureen Colgan announced that the PCSOs would be operating a speed camera in sensitive areas such as the approaches to the schools in Bush Street and Pembroke Road. Offending drivers would be issued with fixed penalty summonses by PC S. Lamb, who will be accompanying the PCSOS operating the speed camera.

Pennar loses its Spar grocery store: The Spar grocery store in Treowen Road had served the residents of Pennar and Bufferland well for many years, but members sadly learnt that the shutters were rung down for the last (?) time on Thursday, December 6. Now, it is only the High Street Post Office/convenience store standing between Pennar and a long walk to the dock!

Residents' objections and reservations to certain aspects of a proposed social housing development site 12/0708/PA 'North of Imble Lane': Ron Selby (secretary) passed around the members a copy of the letter he had handed in to the PCC planning team at County Hall, Haverfordwest. The letter was written on behalf of the P&BCA and the residents living close to the new development:

1. Potential hazards due to the increased traffic volumes along Imble Lane, particularly at the junction with the B4322 Pembroke Road. There had previously been suggestions that there should only be a pedestrian access onto Imble Lane from the proposed site, and that there should be a relief road running through the field to the east of the cricket ground and joining with the Pembroke Road at a roundabout, which should help to slow down the traffic travelling towards the school or Pembroke Dock. The plot plan for the more recent planning application (12/0405/PA) 'East of the Cricket Ground' shows a road exactly where the suggested relief road should run, and its southern end is clearly marked 'Future access road to adjoining site for housing 096/00231'. This site is likely to be deferred until the capacity of the main sewerage system is increased, possibly, sometime in the years 2015 - 2020. Unfortunately, in the RLH Design and Access Statement, the site plan shows two and three bedroom houses blocking off this 'future access road to adjoining site 096/00231', and all the traffic from the site is to be routed along Imble Lane. The lane is to be widened at the point where the site road join onto it, but there will remain a bottle neck where Imble Lane joins with Pembroke Road.

2. It is common knowledge that the main public sewerage system is close to its maximum capacity, and Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water (DC/WW) state that there will be 'no improvements to the existing system under the present Capital Investment Programme'; but some improvements could be made under the DC/WW investment period 2015 - 2020. By dividing the construction of the 83 dwellings into three phases, it is hoped that the capacity of the sewerage system will be sufficient to cope with phases two and three scheduled for occupation in January 2017 to January 2018. Pembrokeshire Housing Association 'are committed to phase 1and are hopeful there is still sufficient capacity in the public sewage system to accommodate the proposed 39 dwellings'. Residents of the Imble Lane area would welcome an assurance from DC/WW that such a capacity already exists before the commencement of phase one.

3. Turning to the matter of land drainage; the field 'North of Imble Lane has a pronounced slope from north to south and is very boggy, particularly at its southern end. After a heavy rainfall, surface water from the field runs under and across Imble Lane and seeps into the gardens of the properties in Springfield Road. After the completion of the 83 dwellings, with all the attendant paving of service roads and car parking spaces scheduled for 2018, the rate of 'run off' will be greatly increased unless great efforts are made to collect the water and drain it into a water course with sufficient capacity to cope, as stated in the RLH document under site constraints.