The following is a copy of a letter sent to the planning department at Pembrokeshire County Council regarding the proposed development of 45-self-catering units on land at the rear of the Night Owl, Penally.

Dear Sirs, We would like to raise our opposition to the proposed development no 15/0222/PA at Holloway Hill, Penally, on the following grounds. 1. The proposed site is an elevated position which is situated at the gateway of the ancient village of Penally. The visual impact alone, in our opinion, will destroy the atmosphere and presentation of this ancient village and in the long term will not be beneficial to attracting a healthy mix of visitor base. 2. The proposed site is situated at Holloway, the name of which is derived from 'Hallowed Way' (made holy and greatly respected) which is an important focal point of an ancient roadway used as a pilgrimage to St. David's. This proposed development would be totally inappropriate on this site. 3. The proposed site has the potential of 400-plus vehicular comings and goings of journeys from the site with all the detrimental environmental impact it will cause in a small area. This will include the impact of noise pollution, vehicles queuing up the hill in order to turn into the site etc. 4. The site also has the potential for 400-plus pedestrian movements and activities using Holloway Hill, which has no footpaths. Furthermore, Holloway Hill has no physical room to construct a footpath. If anyone needs a reminder of the real dangers of this proposed folly, take the local example of Lamphey. After several fatalities, it was found necessary to build a footpath for pedestrians to stop the carnage. Taking into account the above facts and the fact that it is not practicable to create a footpath at Holloway due to lack of space, we strongly recommend that the highway authority takes a second look and this obviously overlooked danger to the public. 5. We understand that planning approval is in place for a number of private residencies on the old Night Owl site. Whilst we believe this is a good development, to even consider an additional proposal of this magnitude is pure thoughtlessness. 6. We ourselves rented this proposed site for our daughter's horses for many years. Contrary to the ecological report, we took pleasure in watching badgers roaming the whole of this proposed site, and did so over many years. My late father-in-law, Mr. Harold Phillips, told us that this land has been a badger haven for many decades. 7. We own a building plot on the opposite side of the road, 10 metres from the proposed site entrance. The plot was granted planning permission for a residence in 1976. The planning authority have, over the years, unreasonably made the assumption that no work was started on the site within five years of approval, despite compelling evidence to the contrary. The relevance of this paragraph is this: A year of so after the 1976 approval, my late mother-in-law, Mrs. Phillips, applied to amend the plans to include two bungalows. This was rejected by the planners on the grounds of 1. Overdevelopment and 2. Visibility. Despite the fact that the plot is historically a car park for West Holloway Guest House. Given the above facts, it is incredulous that the proposed development is even being contemplated.

G. and R. A. Hill,

The Dial Inn, Lamphey.