Old Pennar School Demolition Awarded

The contract for the demolition and subsequent building of housing for Pembrokeshire Housing Association (PHA) has been granted as per the text of the email from Mr Sam Stalbow of PHA below:



EXTRACT START



We have now had a pre-contract meeting with the chosen building contractor and contracts are to be signed shortly. As such, we are in a position where we can tell you that the contractor on the scheme is W.B. Griffiths & Son.





The removal of the stone plaque was raised in our meeting and the contractor are aware that this is something we require as part of the demolition. We have not however been able to give any indication of what is to be done with the plaque other than liaising with yourself and the Town Council.





If you would like to contact W.B. Griffiths regarding this, please see details below:





Peter Griffiths

T: 01437 762674

E: peter@wbgriffiths.co.uk

W: www.wbgriffiths.co.uk



EXTRACT END




I have also had some requests asking for an opportunity to look over the school for one last time. I have written to ask if this would be possible and have received a reply. See my next post!

Old Pennar School......an update.

This is the first post post on this blog for rather a long time - too long I think.

The title of Old Pennar School has now be lodged with the land registry under the ownership of Pembrokeshire Housing Association. They paid £105,000 for the place.

The title has several covenants attached to it. If anyone can explain the purpose and significance of them I would be very grateful!

I have recently been in touch with Mr Nigel Sinnett of the Pembrokeshire Housing Association. I sent the email on or about 7 April 2016. A copy of my email is below:

Dear Nigel

I hope you and yours are well. I have a few questions about the work that PHA will be undertaking at Old Pennar School.

 Firstly, has a start date for the building been decided and if so, when would this be? I would like to be able to have the demise of the building recorded for posterity.

 Secondly, I assume you have plans for the demolition material from the school. What will happen to the limestone, particularly the dressed stone, as well as the internal fixtures of the school – such as partitions, fireplaces (such that survive) and roof timbers? I know of a couple of local heritage based projects that have a use for random limestone walling stone for repair and renovation of a couple of old houses. It would be excellent if some of this stone could be made available to those projects at low/no cost. I must come clean and confess that one of these projects is being undertaken by myself – a house/cottage almost within view of the school that has been virtually untouched since being built in about 1880 – contemporaneous with the school. The stone would be used to help with the repair of the garden wall and restoration of the old garden. The cottage has been in continuous occupation by the same family for over 100 years and retains most of its internal woodwork, which reflects the materials and skills of the workforce at Pembroke Dockyard. Such details would have ben ubiquitous in PD, but sadly in most houses in the town they have been ripped out in the name of progress. The other project is one south of Pembroke where a very old cottage is being rescued, along with a series of old outbuildings, with which I have some involvement. Information about the cottage in Bufferland/Pennar is attached.

It would be excellent too if some parts of the school could be retained in Pennar or lodged with the heritage centre in the Dockyard Chapel? I am thinking particularly of the stone tablet in the north gable of the building or some of the internal folding partitions and doors with their stone settings.

I do understand that the demolition contractors will probably want to make the as much money form the architectural salvage as possible, but if it is not too late, preservation locally of some parts of the building or use locally of the materials (not in land fill!) could be seen as a conciliatory gesture towards the local community who are saddened by the fate of the school.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes

Adrian James

Since writing the above letter it occurred to me that there is a need for a stock of traditional building materials to be maintained in the area of South Pembrokeshire for appropriate renovation projects on old buildings, particularly those listed or in the Pembroke Dock Conservation Area.

(At this point I shall make a relevant aside.... The need for such a supply of architectural salvage was made evident, several years ago, when my Auntie, who lived on Upper Row on Golden Hill in Pembroke, noticed workmen digging in the gutters outside her house. It transpired that they were lifting the old limestone kerbing and gutter setts (and replacing them with concrete!) so that the originals could be used to enhance the streets in Tenby. I thought it was outrageous then and I still think that today.)

The reply that I received form Mr Sinnett, on 15 April 2016, was both full and positive:



Adrian, thanks for your email

I’m sorry but I’ve been out of the office for much of this week and so I haven’t been able to respond. I did ask our development officer responsible for this scheme, Sam Stalbow, to summarise our position for me. I have cut and pasted this below.

The building works are scheduled within our 4 Year Development Programme for the 2016/17 period. A specific date has not been firmed up as of yet, though tenders have now been received and our consultants are currently examining them.

Regarding any building material from the existing school building. On all Pembrokeshire Housing Association development schemes a Principal Contractor is appointed to coordinate the construction phase of the project. Where demolition precedes any building work, it is the Principal Contractor’s responsibility to competently undertake any demolition and to dispose of all arisings/building material as they see fit. This could involve carting off site to an appropriate landfill, crushing to reuse material as aggregate or hardcore, or a plethora of alternatives. It is the contractor’s decision and as such, will affect the cost of the work. This is standard procedure and reflects the tender documentation.

Due to any demolition material ultimately being the responsibility of the principal contractor, my best suggestion would be that we provide a means of contact between you and the Principal Contractor (once appointed). This will allow you to strike up a dialogue with respect to any recycling or reuse of specific building materials.

The reason for this is that as the client, if we were to retrospectively request that building materials be reclaimed, we would essentially invalidate our tender. An example here would be; if a contractor had priced within their tender to demolish the building and crush the stone to use as hardcore. Suggest we were to then retrospectively request the contractor carefully remove and reclaim the quoin stones of the building. This would cost the contractor greatly in that they would have to supply hardcore from elsewhere, as well as change their method for demolition substantially.

It is with this in mind that I feel a dialogue between the principal contractor and yourself would be appropriate, with the aim of agreeing any potential reclamation of building materials. All of our contractors are registered with Considerate Constructors and as part of the Code of Considerate Practice it would be in their best interest to speak with the local community about this.

The development team have worked with a structural engineer to come up with a solution allowing us to retain the stone wall that bounds with the public footpath to the north of the site. Originally this wall was to be demolished and rebuilt. Where possible, we are endeavouring to retain what we can whilst still satisfying the various regulations that we are subject to as a housing association as well as keeping the scheme financially viable.

Additionally, we would look to retain any historically significant items such as the stone tablet on the northern gable, and would seek to liaise with the Town Council regarding the best solution for this.

We would be happy to engage with the Town Council further on this matter. As for the heritage centre, again it would be best for the centre to strike up a relationship with the successful contractor once we have reached a decision on who to appoint. Sam will be able to advise further on this once we have appointed the contractor and as the scheme progresses.

Regards

Nigel



I have this evening, 5 June 2016, heard unconfirmed reports. that the demolition of the school is imminent. I have not received any further correspondence from Pembrokeshire Housing Association, despite their assurances that they would be in touch.

AJ. 5/6/16

Demolish Old Pennar School - Demolition Approved.

I am downhearted today. The application to demolish Old Pennar School was determined yesterday and conditional planning approval was given.

I feel a massive sense of injustice in the whole affair - but it is not over yet. There could be a Judicial Review! More about this in a later post........

Progress is progress, but at what price? Should one of the few buildings left in Pennar, that holds a communal connection with the past be eradicated to provide yet more housing?

That people need places to live cannot be denied - it is a human right to be able to live, with your family, where you wish. Does this mean that everything else is subsidiary to this? I think not! The basis of society is family. As Mrs Doubtfire said, "There are all sorts of different families, Katie.", and family is a generational thing. A community of families needs a sense of place, an identity - this is the cement of a civilised society and places the community in both time and space. Do people want to live in a landscape devoid of any concrete statement of their communal heritage?

My experience as a teacher for many years has taught me that a school is focus for a community. "School days are the happiest days of your life" - not true for all, but so true for the majority. School days are NOT, in our memories, about the 3Rs - they are about the teachers who made a connection with us, the social life of the playground, the subversive passing of notes, the moaning about school dinners, the adoration of spotted dick and custard, the friends we made, the "falling outs" we had (a girl thing mainly;)) and the tumult of learning about how to deal with the vast complexity of life.

All these things happen in a school. A school is a place where - in the case of Old Pennar School - there were:

....outside loos, frozen milk, coal burner fires in the classroom, football or "Kingy" at break, marbles in the pits along the lane into school. The teachers and their foibles, the screaming swifts, Pioneers, Discoverers, Adventurers and Pilgrims. I was a Pilgrim!

and more.....

Stephen Butland and myself in the wheel-barrow race!!! Football practice in the park - "Sir, I think I've pulled a muscle!"; "James, I didn't know you had any muscles!" Pride in your own stories read out in class or your art work posted on the walls of the classroom. Lizards and shrews in your desk after lunch. Allowed home early for good work. Watching the launch of the QE2 with Mrs Harris......

How many of us have deliberately driven past our old schools to show our young passengers where we went to school and revisit tales of classroom derring-do?

None of the above plays any role in the planning process. The decision to demolish old buildings is reduced to the type of thing that is written below:


Planning Application - Details

Having regard to the details of the application proposals, and the relevant provisions of the Local Development Plan for Pembrokeshire (adopted 28 February 2013) as summarised below Policies SP 1, SP 14, GN.1, GN.2, GN.26 and GN.37 It is considered that subject to compliance with the conditions attached in this permission, the proposed development would be in accordance with the Development Plan. This informative is intended only to be a summary of the reasons for the granting of planning permission. For further details on the decision, please see the application report under the above reference.


I remain unclear about the details in the "application report under the above reference" . I can't find it or indeed the reference?? 

The documents relating to the application can be found on the PCC Planning website at reference: 14/1098/PA 

Application Details

Planning Application Ref:

14/1098/PA 

Validated Date:

15-Apr-2015 

Decision Date:

26-Aug-2015 

Decision:

Conditionally Approved 

Application Type:

Major (Full) 

Extension of time to:

 

Area:

Pembroke Dock Town Council 

Community:

Pembroke Dock: Pennar 

Main Location:

Old Pennar School, Treowen Road, Pennar, Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, SA72 6NZ 

Full Description:

Demolish existing school and erection of 15 dwellings 

Status:

Decision Made 

Comment:

This application has already been decided. You cannot comment on it 

• Address Details
• Conditions & Reasons
• View Documents
• Appeal Details
• Legal Agreements Info

Decision Details

Decision: Conditionally Approved 

Decision Date: 26-Aug-2015 

Conditions/Reasons For Refusal

Type	Short Desc
Condition	Drainage Scheme
Condition	Protected Species Mitigation
Condition	Traffic Management Plan
Condition	Access amendments
Condition	Demolition method statement
Condition	Affordable Housing
Condition	5 year standard time limit
Condition	Plan Specification
Condition	Implement parking on plan
Informative	Contact Natural Resources Wales
Informative	Reason for grant of planning permission

                                                                            

 I will be writing more about this very soon. Meanwhile, there are threads running on the following Facebook Groups.

I Live in Pembrokeshire and I Love it!"
Pembroke and Pembroke Dock in Old Photographs
Pennar, Pembroke Dock in Old Photographs

Also see Facebook Page: Save Old Pennar School

Save Old Pennar School - getting the building listed (Part 4)

Apologies for the lull in posts, but other things have cropped up.

As part of the the request for listing a building you are also  asked to give the historical background to the building. 

For Old Pennar School, there is information in files in The National Archives and at Pembrokeshire Archives, as well as some old newspaper reports and documents in private hands.



Files in The National Archives include ED 21/67383, an extract of which is reproduced, courtesy of TNA. This is a school inspector's report from 1938, and is interesting as it mentions how some of the classrooms were arranged.

In the Pembrokeshire Archives are files that tell us what the school was like initially. 

Details of specification and cost. This shows that the school initially comprised three classrooms.

Mixed Girls School Room:

 50 ft x 20 ft x 26 ft high

20ft x 15 ft x 20 ft high

Infants classroom

50ft x 20ft x 26ft high

The school was remodelled in 1894 to provide an extra infants classroom. Cost was £270.

30ft x 18ft x 16ft high (Wall Plate 12 ft)

In 1897 the school accommodated 123 Girls and 193 Infants.

The school was again enlarged in 1901, bringing it up to its present form.

Mixed Girls School Room:

 51 ft x 20 ft x 20 ft high

46ft x 20 ft x 20 ft high

20ft x 20 ft x 20 ft high

Infants classroom

33 ft x 24 ft x 20 ft

22 ft x 24 ft x 20 ft

30 ft x 19 ft x 18 ft

The extract below from my submission to CADW for listing, explains (in part) the relationship between the bombing of the Oil Tanks (In August 1940) and Old Pennar School:

I shall give you a few more extracts in my next post.

Old Pennar School - A few bits on planning policy.

Each year, local authorities have to produce a report that states the anticipated supply of housing sites that they have available for the next 5 years. The report has to show how the authority will meet its expected demand for housing. The report is known as the Joint Housing Land Availability Study (JHLAS). The joint production of this report involved Pembrokeshire Housing Association (PHA), amongst others. See the front of the report for the names of all parties.

The link above will take you to the page relating to this on the Pembrokeshire County Council's (PCC) website.

It is quite a technical document, but the amount of building land available for the next five years is calculated. The amount of land available is summarised by one number - the Land Supply Available in Years. For the PCC area in 2014, this is 5.3. 

In other words, PCC Land Supply Availability exceeds what they need for the next 5 years. 

See the extract from the report below.























This implies that PCC do not NEED to demolish Old Pennar School to fulfil their land availability target.

The next thing to consider is whether the site of Old Pennar School has been identified in the JHLAS as a potential site for building new houses.

The report is very thorough, and as an appendix, lists all the sites identified as being able to fulfil the 5 year Land Supply Availability target. I have included an extract that shows the sites identified in Pembroke Dock below. (To make it readable, it overspills the page.)



























Nowhere in the above list of sites, is Old Pennar School mentioned as contributing to the Land Supply Availability.

There is a document, much more substantial than the JHLAS 2014, that provides the background to the report. This is the Statement of Common Ground, the final version of which was published on the 19 February 2015. This gives far more detail about the sites mentioned in the JHLAS (published, incidentally, on 3 March 2015). It also gives an explanation of some of the terms and categories mentioned in the extract above. The parties to this were:

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL LPA
THE HOME BUILDERS FEDERATION
PEMBROKESHIRE COAST NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY
PERSIMMON HOMES WEST WALES
PEMBROKESHIRE HOUSING ASSOCIATION
TAI CANTREF AND
DWR CYMRU WELSH WATER

Once again, no mention of Old Pennar School as a site for the provision of housing. It cannot have been counted as a "small site" as these are defined as being of 5 dwellings or less. The proposal at Old Pennar School is for 15 dwellings.

Bids for the purchase of Old Pennar School had to be submitted by 1 August 2014. Consultation on the sites proposed for inclusion in the JHLAS proceeded as described in the extract from the report below.















The draft schedules were available for consultation on 18 September 2014, a full 6 weeks after the bid closing date. Email correspondence with PCC Property has revealed that the two bids made, one by PHA, were submitted on 28 and 29 July 2014.

Even though 6+ weeks were available for a decision on which bid was to be accepted prior to the opening of consultations on the JHLAS, there is still no mention of Old Pennar School in the report. Given that, in Pembroke Dock,  land for housing, that would become available within 3 years, is not much in evidence in the report, it is surprising that PCC did not include the Old Pennar School site. If the planning application is approved, then building work (and demolition) could start almost immediately.

Speculating about this might lead one to suppose that they (PCC) did not wish to highlight the future fate of  Old Pennar School, worried about the considerable concern that they knew this might bring to the fore from the local community. PHA has already suggested that the proposed scheme would not have been pursued if they had known in advance about the level of local opposition to the plan to demolish what is an iconic landmark in the community of Pennar.

I am still minded to think that PHA have become embroiled in this matter somewhat unwittingly. Clearly they do not wish to be seen as the "bad guys" in this issue, but may well have been outmanoeuvred by the political machinations of PCC.

If you have stuck with this you deserve a medal!

More on this later. My next post will be a continuation of the bid to get the school listed.

Old Pennar School - Getting the building listed (Part 3)

Having given information as to the location of the building, and some photographs of the outside, we can now look at the internal features of this Victorian Board School. Below is only a sample of the photographs I submitted, but you will get the general gist of the place! You also need to have quite a bit of vision too! Modern suspended ceilings and plasterboard cover much of interest - but the interesting bits are still there!

In the next post we will look at the historical background of the building - the next section of information that CADW requires to enable it to review the listing of a building.

Old Pennar School - Getting the building listed (Part 2)

Cadw also ask for some modern photographs of the building. A selection of the exterior views I provided in this instance follows:

Next, we will have a look inside!

Old Pennar School and the Oil Tanks Fire (Part 2)

I would like YOU to do something for me ...please.

The 19th August, this summer, will be the 75th Anniversary of the bombing of the oil tanks at Pennar, just above Llanreath. Old Pennar School is where many, many firemen from all over Pembrokeshire, from Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff and other parts of Wales sought refuge and rest from the searing heat of the conflagration less that a mile up the road. The Church Hall opposite the school acted as a first aid post and official reports recount how the local population opened their hearts, homes and rations to the fire fighters.

The Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre, with the Sunderland Trust, is planning to commemorate the events of those (literally) dark days with a church service and exhibition/display in the Garrison Chapel.

Pembrokeshire County Council and Pembrokeshire Housing Association have proposed an alternative commemoration.... demolish one of the few (only) buildings in Pembroke Dock/Pennar associated with what was an historic event in the history of war time Britain.

Nothing if not crass.

Why not drop Pembrokeshire Housing Association a polite email or letter letting them know how insensitive to the feelings of the community of Pennar their proposal is?

Here are their contact details:

Registered Office:

Meyler House,

St. Thomas' Green,

Haverfordwest,

Pembrokeshire.

SA61 1QP

Tel: (01437) 763688

Fax: (01437) 763997

General Enquiries: Enquiries@pembs-ha.co.uk

You may wish to to make your comments for the attention of: 

Mr Nigel Sinnett

or

Mr Sam Salgo

Note: Photograph courtesy of Rosemary Norton whose mother took this shot whilst stationed in Pembroke Dock

 — at Military Road, Pennar, Pembroke Dock.

Old Pennar School - Requiem to Mr Isaac Hughes, builder

I have tried to find out a little more about the builder who built Old Pennar School in about 1872/3.

He was a Mr Isaac Hughes, who when he died in 1874, lived in Bush Street, Pembroke Dock.

The witnesses to his will were Michael Morgan Builder of Pembroke Dock and Isaac Cadogan, Stonemason, of Pembroke Dock. He left everything to his wife.

In 1861, Isaac, a joiner who hailed from Reynoldston, shared a house with another joiner at 15(?) Lewis Street. Ten years later he was living with his wife Mary, his four children and a servant in Gwyther Street, probably at 1 Gwyther Street South, because that is where his widow and 5 children, were living in 1881. His eldest child, Elizabeth, who would have been 19 years old in 1881, no longer lived at the address.

Isaac was about 36 years old when he died. He wrote his will on 9 April 1874 and died on 20 April, 11 days later. 

The Board School in Pennar opened in 1873, the year before Isaac died. An oft quoted memorial (I am sure that someone can tell me where it originated) is particularly apt in Isaac's case. If you stand in the playground, between the two wings of Old Pennar School, as the swifts scream their requiem over your head.......

"If you seek his memorial, just look around you"

Old Pennar - who to contact (Part 1)

The meeting on 11th June 2015 was well attended - 65 from all sides present. As it was an informal discussion, no minutes were taken. The meeting lasted over 90 minutes.

The members of the panel:

Pembrokeshire Housing Association;
Pembrokeshire County Council;
Pembroke Town Council;
Councillor Tony Wilcox;

can now be under no illusion over the depth of feeling over the proposal to demolish Old Pennar School.

I was asked by several of those present to provide contact details for people or organisations that might be able offer support or guidance for our objections to the demolition of Old Pennar School.

People you may wish to contact to seek further clarification on any procedural concerns you might have concerning the sale and proposed demolition of Old Pennar School. For example, if you have expressed an interest in the property and have been denied a request to view it even though this contravenes Pembrokeshire County Council's own guidelines as expressed on their website.
Note:

• Conditions of Sale  1) The purchaser is responsible for ensuring that they are satisfied by way of inspection or otherwise as to the correctness of these particulars, which do not constitute any part of any contract.  2) The Council does not give and the Councils employees have no authority to make or give any representation or warranty whatsoever in relation to the property.  3) All measurements and areas are approximate and given as a guide only.  4) The Council has a duty to consider any offers received prior to an exchange of contracts.  5) The vendor does not undertake to accept the highest or any offer and no offer should be made which is calculable by reference to the offer of another party.  6) Whilst every care has been taken in the preparation of these particulars their accuracy is not guaranteed and interested parties must satisfy themselves on all matters upon which their offer is based.  NOTE: The parties mentioned below, regardless of political affiliations, have a DUTY to listen to and respond to their constituents concerns. It is their job.

Angela Burns AM / AC

Welsh Conservative Member for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire / Aelod y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig dros Gorllewin Caerfyrddin a De Sir Benfro.

14 Market Square
Narberth
Pembrokeshire
SA67 7AU

Tel: 01834 862725

email: Angela.Burns@Assembly.Wales

Simon Hart, MP

In writing:

15 St John Street
Whitland
Carmarthenshire
SA340AN

In person:
Alternatively, if you would like to meet me at one of my surgeries then please ring my office on 01994 342002 to book an appointment. These are held regularly throughout Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.

By telephone:
The best way to contact me is to ring my constituency office on 01994 342002 or you can also try calling me in the House of Commons on 0207 219 3000

By email: simon.hart.mp@parliament.uk
"Please include your address on any correspondence to enable me to help you more quickly."

I have emailed both of the above representatives. Angela Burns, AM responded very quickly and has made the point that she would wish to hear from her constituents in order to gauge the level of concern over the matter.

Simon Hart, MP has yet to reply other than by an automated response, to my email. This may be because I am not a local constituent, so I will raise the matter with my own MP and ask for Mr Hart to be informed about the concerns that were expressed at the meeting in Pennar Hall and in the letters of objection to the council.

COUNCILLOR TONY WILCOX

 

Tel: 01646 621942

25 Owen Street,

Pennar,

Pembroke Dock,

SA72 6SLAnthony.wilcox125@btinternet.com

 

Pembrokeshire County Council.

"Making a Complaint - What can I complain about?

We take all complaints seriously. If, as a customers of services from Pembrokeshire County Council, you are not happy with the way we've dealt with you, we want you to tell us so that we can, where possible, sort out the problems and provide a resolution."

 

Pembrokeshire County Council - Complaints

 

Public Service Ombudsman for Wales

The website for the ombudsman gives full contact details and how to make a complaint.

http://www.ombudsman-wales.org.uk/

Public Services Ombudsman for Wales
1 Ffordd yr Hen Gae
Pencoed
CF35 5LJ

Tel: 0300 790 0203
Fax: (01656) 641199

A Trip Around Old Pennar School

In a spare moment I have put together  a video (on my phone). A bit lumpy in parts, but worth a look?

Regrettably, I have been unable to gain access to the interior of the building, but negotiations are continuing. Click the link below to see the the trip:

Link: A walk to and around Old Pennar School

The journey starts with a walk down Treowen Road, heading south, and the school appears on the skyline. After a few reminders of the meeting on 11 June 2015, there is a succession of still shots which look at the school from the east, take you along the path on the north side of the building to the west entrance, past Gothic Cottages. We then go into the site via the west lane and walk around the building in a clockwise direction.

Note how good the roof is! Note how good the interior looks. Well done to PCC for keeping things safe!

Remember the Open Meeting to discuss the plan to demolish Old Pennar School on:

11 June 2015

7 pm

Pennar Hall

Old Pennar School - Alternative Uses

It is all very well succeeding in keeping the school standing, but without use and a commitment to keep it "alive", the efforts will have been in vain. What to do?

What follows are a few ideas, which I hope readers will comment on constructively. They are in no particular order, just as they come to me or how I copy them from my rough notes!

Some of the ideas are only part solutions and will not require use of the whole building. Some ideas will work in parallel in different parts of the site.

Then, there is the need to oversee the future and day to day running of the place. Not for the faint hearted! A trust/charitable group?

1. House with many spectacular features.
The building would make a fantastic house - a Grand Designs type project!

2. Affordable Housing
The building retained, but non-destructively partitioned internally. As suggested and passed in 2012, BUT (Big BUT) higher quality internal arrangement.

3. Community Cinema
The east wing would make a fantastic Community Cinema. Grants are available to start such things up and Pennarites could walk to the Flicks! The space could also be used for lectures, talks and training using the Community Cinema's installations.
BFI; Cinema for All

4. Music Practice Rooms.
These could be constructed in the east/central/west wing and used alongside other facilities mentioned here. It would be independently run as a non-profit organisation to promote musicianship within the area and to encourage young people to develop their talents in this area.

5. Recording Studio
This could run alongside the music practice rooms or other proposals, and again offer a community facility that could be run as a non-profit trust/charity.

6. Dance lessons/school
The west wing would make a fantastic dance floor! Strictly non-profit and a high quality community facility. Beginning to sound like a community arts centre!!
People Dancing

7. Micro-brewery.
The west wing could house a micro-brewery that could produce Pennar's own brew. An artisan enterprise, that could cash in on the trendy call for high quality local beers. "Gut - Pennar's Special Brew".

8. Conference centre
The building is in good condition and could be adapted as a county/business meeting/conference centre, providing employment within the community. See the next suggestion too.

9. Green living centre.
Adding to the offer that Pembroke Dock has for the development of green technologies, the school could become a local centre of excellence in promoting green living ideals. The large south facing roof would support PV energy panels, the north facing roof heat exchange panels. The building itself could become a centre for the training of local people in the skills and knowledge required to meet the growing demand for green energy and other low carbon technologies. A centre that would provide advice and guidance for those in both industry and the domestic home spheres. 
Energy Saving Trust; Tree Hugger; Environment Wales

What ideas do you have?

Old Pennar School - Pre-determined level playing field (Lol).

The planning papers for the application to demolish Old Pennar School have this quote on page 2:

Notice the box at the bottom??

That's Ok then! Pembrokeshire County Council democracy in action! A quote from someone no-one in Pembrokeshire elected and at a time when the decision to delegate the determination of the application to an officer had neither been discussed or decided!

Reminds me of the time, about six months ago, when after having prepared my first objection to a planning application (The Former Commodore Hotel, PD), I dutifully turned up at the meeting at about 0900, having driven down to Harfat and PD from Suffolk, hung around until about 1600 watching the fate of other applications before the committee, until my moment came!

I made my presentation to the committee and awaited the first question with interest and enthusiastic anticipation. The member for Pembroke Dock (Market) asked:

"Where do you live Mr James?"

There you go!

This seemed to me to be a more extreme example of an encounter with a very fine gentleman who worked on the range at Castlemartin. I was doing summer range warden duties to eke out my time at college. It was my first season of many on the range.

Standing outside the target shed in Merrion Camp I asked this kind gentleman,

"Are you from around here?, Local like?"

Dead pan reply,

"No boy, I'm from Bosherston."

Thank heavens he was allowed a job at Merrion and to have his say!!

Note: Look up Merrion and Bosherston on Google Maps

Save Old Pennar School - Objection and Comments

If you have objected to the proposal to demolish Old Pennar School, then might I ask that you let me have a copy of your objection/comment?

If you have yet to comment, I believe that the application is still open for comments at:

Comments re: demolition of Old Pennar School

This is a very important request and your reply at the earliest opportunity would be most appreciated. Comments on the posts on this blog would be helpful too!

Email: SaveOldPennarSchool@gmail.com