Councillors in Tenby who have raised issues over retrospective planning applications, want the Welsh Government to look at the matter again in their review of the planning process.

In recent times, members of Tenby town council have asked for stricter rules regarding retrospective planning works in Tenby to be applied, calling for PCNPA to take stronger action in certain cases, as more and more examples seemed to be cropping up across the town.

However, despite their views, councillors were informed by PCNPA’s director of park direction and planning that the authority could not fine anybody for retrospective planning work, as it was not illegal.

Members have also received responses from local AMs after asking them for their views on whether greater enforcement should be given in the future to crackdown on such applications.

Correspondence from AM Lesley Griffiths, cabinet secretary for energy, planning rural affairs, on the matter, came before councillors at their meeting on Tuesday night.

“The variety of development and uniqueness of each location means planning involves subjective judgement about the significance of effects on amenity and the surrounding environment.

“The dividing line between what does and does not require the submission of a planning application can therefore be blurred.

“Whilst I acknowledge some unauthorised development is a deliberate attempt to evade proper procedures, there may be cases where works have been carried out in good faith because the developer believed planning permission was not needed.

“Where unauthorised development is unacceptable in planning terms, I fully expect the Local Planning Authorities to use the powers available to them to remedy the breach, seeking the removal of unacceptable development.

“An efficient and effective enforcement is a crucial deterrent,” she added.

Responding to the correspondence, Clr. Laurence Blackhall told his colleagues that he felt that Mrs. Griffiths letter somewhat ‘missed the point’.

“Everybody is required to abide by the planning rules, some may not mistakenly but some are clearly quite deliberately not following the process,” he said.

“In their review of the planning process, the Welsh Government need to look again at retrospective planning and penalties need to be put in place.

“I’m not talking about going after someone putting up a shed in their back garden, I’m talking about to serious construction developments.

“If there are rules then everybody should have to follow them. I suggest we write back to say that we don’t agree with these points and think that there should be a penalty for not following the planning process. I also think that we should ask them to give serious consideration to the matter in their review of planning which is underway,” he added, with Deputy Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown agreeing that she was fed up of people ‘deliberately flouting the rules’ in Pembrokeshire.