Ref. NP/02/133

Dear Ms Catherine Milner,

I am contacting you to express my absolute support for the Roundhouse at Brithdir Mawr, Newport, Pembrokeshire. and my absolute opposition to it being pulled down.

I am astounded that no-one from the National Park has actually been to visit this dwelling, yet can feel justified in making such a decision, and that no one has the foresight to realise just what an important contribution to practical ways of sustainable living this dwelling is. It is one we should be proud of in Wales,and giving our support to.

At a time in history when sustainability and caring for our sadly damaged environment is finally being recognised as an imperative, surely we should be welcoming the fact that there are people in our society who are actually committed to low impact living and housing. It is through such developments that we are provided with models for the future. The sooner we ŒLearn to Live Differently,¹ the sooner we can start to halt the damage that our impact on the environment has been having for far too long.
ŒLearn to Live Differently¹ are the words used by the Welsh Assembly which states that it is committed to making sustainability a cornerstone of all its policies. The Roundhouse is a perfect case study of Low Impact Development, and one that I believe should be treated as such by the Pembrokeshire National Park.

I also fail to understand how the Roundhouse constitutes a visual problem. Aside from the fact that it is literally of the earth itself, I cannot see the Roundhouse from any view point, but I can see a metal machinery shed and a caravan park very clearly, neither of which can be said to be aesthetically  pleasing, and yet they were granted planning permission.

I would urge you to organise a party to visit the Roundhouse before making any rash decisions, and to seriously reconsider your policy. If the Roundhouse should be demolished, then I have no doubt at all that it will go down in history as a very short- sighted move, totally lacking in vision. Many things that society has come to take for granted were once feared simply because they were Œdifferent¹ at that time. Is this its crime? - it is different? I would hope we have enlightened people care taking our National Parks. I would urge you to make an enlightened decision.


Sincerely
Heather Summers
Project Co-ordinator for Women In Tune, Registered Charity 1087944

Cc Sue Essex, Minister of the Environment