Laugharne Community Sports Association
Celebrating Sport, Spirit & Togetherness in Laugharne
Planning Application Reference: PL/07630
Location: Laugharne VCP School, Laugharne, Carmarthen, SA33 4TE
Applicant: Sancler 3 Ltd
Agent: Avison Young (UK) Ltd
Date Submitted: 23 April 2024
Date Refused: 11 February 2025
Type: Hybrid Planning Application
Laugharne CSA Summary of Planning Appeal[...]
Adobe Acrobat document [125.7 KB]
2025-06-16 - Sancler 3 Ltd Statement of [...]
Adobe Acrobat document [15.9 MB]
2025-10-16 - Carmarthenshire CC - Refusa[...]
Adobe Acrobat document [222.4 KB]
Comment To Be Submitted to: Planning & Environment Decisions Wales
Appeal
Reference: CAS-04401-M1Z2W2
Appeal Start Date: 16/10/2025
Content Disclaimer
All comments are considered public records upon submission. While LCSA will make every effort to protect your personal information, the name you provide will be publicly posted alongside your comment. Contact information (e.g., email address) will not be published but may be retained for administrative purposes only. Please do not include sensitive personal or identifying information in the body of your comment. We reserve the right to review, edit, or remove any comments deemed inappropriate, off-topic, or spam.
Please include the following:-
- Your connection to the area (e.g. resident, parent, club member)
- Specific concerns or support for the development
- Any relevant experience or impact
Comments
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I was born and bred in Laugharne and incredibly proud to have represented both the rugby and cricket club for a number of years and also attended the primary school. I would strongly urge you to reconsider your decision. Laugharne is such a beautiful and unique place and sport is the hub. Whoever actually makes these decisions must have visited the site and viewed the existing facilities which are absolutely not fit for purpose. We need to ensure that future generations have the opportunity to play sport both for their physical and mental health. Do the right thing reverse your decision it can be your legacy
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The benefits of the planing application far outweigh the refusal of the planing application. I have played rugby for Laugharne and cricket for Laugharne and still turn out for the cricket team when needed.. The facilities desperately need updating and improving. It is so obvious that the application needs passing
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I am a resident of Laugharne and would ask you to reconsider your decision to reject the application and allow this much needed development. The proposal will enhance the lives of the community for decades.
I have been involved with rugby for most of my life and last 37 years I have been involved as a member and a Trustee of Wooden Spoon the children’s charity of Rugby . I have seen first hand how rugby and community benefits the physical and mental strength of individuals and family. Provision of suitable facilities are the foundation of this support. I do understand the department’s issues associated with the application, however, I believe that measure can be put in place to mitigate to resolve these . Please review and I ask you to reverse your decision. -
I have been associated with Laugharne for many years and I’m currently Laugharne rfc captain.
We are writing to appeal for your consideration and support in establishing a new clubhouse for our community.
The proposed clubhouse will not only improve changing and training facilities but also create a welcoming social space that can be used by local schools, charities, and community organisations.
This will strengthen the club’s role as a true community hub.
Also give future generation better facilities to use, to hopefully carry on the success we have over the last few years. -
As I have grown up in Laugharne went to Laugharne school my self and now my kids go there it would benefit them to have a safe place to play. And keep the rugby going in Laugharne
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Having been born and bred in Laugharne and seen my children attend Laugharne school and now my grandchild, I feel the benefits that would be gained by Laugharne school and the community far outweighs the reasons for the refusal of planning. I urge the council to consider changing their decision and grant planning to benefit the health and wellbeing of the community and its children
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I am a resident of Laugharne and have lived here for over 40 years. My two sons were born here and attended Laugharne Primary School, and played rugby for Laugharne as children and through to the 1stXV. They are now in their forties and throughout their lifetime have longed for improvements to the sporting facilities.
The development of Wooford Park Laugharne for sporting and recreational use is long overdue. The community has been trying to improve the facilities for our children for over 20 years.
We have been prevented from doing this due to planning and ownership issues throughout this time.
Fortunately for us the land is under new ownership. The new owners, San Cler Properties, are committed to assisting the community in developing this land for sporting and recreational use, and to this end have pledged the leasehold to the community This will allow the tenants, Laugharne Community Sports Association to apply for grants and funding to start the development of new facilities.
This is currently being delayed yet again by Carmarthenshire CC Planning dept for reasons which can easily be overcome through dialogue, discussion and compromise. I ask that you allow this appeal. -
It’s such a shame that the Council can’t see the benefits this project would deliver to a rural community. The rugby club has been the hub of the community for many years and this will ensure young and old can enjoy the new facilities for many years to come.
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The rugby club has been at the heart of the of the community for years, providing sporting opportunities for children and adults in the local area. The proposed developments will not only secure the future of rugby in the Laugharne, but will also provide an ideal setting for other sports clubs, the local school and community events.
The improvements will:
- Benefit multiple sports by offering high-quality facilities suitable for training, games and events.
- Support the local school by giving the pupils access to a safe, modern space for physical education and extracurricular activities.
- Encourage health and wellbeing in the local community
- Improve accessibility through upgraded parking and changing facilities.
This project represents a valuable investment to our communities health, infrastructure and youth development. I hope this decision is reconsidered by the council. -
I’ve grown up in Laugharne and played Rugby for Laugharne RFC for most of my life. The current facilities are not up to standard and need development. This would give a modern, up to date facility for local sports teams and the local community.
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The club has been an important part of our community for many years, providing opportunities for people of all ages to get involved in sport, stay active, and build friendships. The existing facilities are no longer adequate for the number of players, teams, and community groups that use them, and a new clubhouse is essential for the club’s future sustainability.
The proposed clubhouse will not only improve changing and training facilities but also create a welcoming social space that can be used by local schools, charities, and community organisations. This will strengthen the club’s role as a true community hub.
I therefore urge the council to approve this application so that Laugharne Rugby Club can continue to make a positive contribution to sport and community life in Laugharne. -
As somebody who has grown up in laugharne and played rugby for laugharne most mg life and continue to do so this is vital to the development and survival of the local sport teams
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I am a resident of Laugharne and hope that you reconsider your decision- these improvements are desperately needed to improve facilities for the young people of this area.
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I live away currently but originally from Laugharne. I fully support this planning application as it presents an important opportunity to strengthen Laugharne’s community. The proposal would deliver much-needed, modern sports and recreational facilities for all ages, encouraging health and fitness. Existing facilities are outdated, and this project would finally provide Laugharne with the quality amenities it truly deserves. I feel all the benefits out weight any negatives.
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I have grown up in Laugharne and am now a club member. I would love to see improved facilities which are long overdue and vital to the community. Laugharne's facilities are well behind our neighbours. I feel the benefits to the community in this plan outweigh any reasons not to allow the development.
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I’ve been playing rugby in Laugharne for 13 years and also on the Laugharne rfc committee. Wooford park is a vital part of Laugharne, the facilities need updating and the reasons for refusal are not justified compared to what the community will benefit.
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I am a lifelong resident of Laugharne whose family members have used the field for many years and hopefully will still be using it in the future. I wholeheartedly support this appeal and hope the Council will reverse their decision. It is so important that this Township has good sporting facilities for both young and old, which would be of great benefit to the community.
as a whole.
Please reconsider your views on this planning application.
Many thanks.
Susan Pearce -
They won’t fix a blocked drai outside my house let alone give something to the community to benefit future generations 😡
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I think this is a very narrow minded take, we all need to embrace outdoors and fitness for our wellbeing, also encouraging children to exercise and be healthy
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As a lifelong resident of Laugharne with family members who would benefit from the use of the field I would like to wholeheartedly support this appeal and hope that the council reconsiders this decision. For many years there have been very basic facilities for the community which have been post war in appearance. The community has had many hopes but disappointments with this land over many years and this is an opportunity to reinvigorate the facilities available in Laugharne and bring life to a very dated facility. Laugharne residents deserve the opportunity to make proper use of this land and the sports facilities that this will provide are invaluable for future generations. Please consider this opportunity realistically and for the benefits of the community for years to come.
I feel the benefits to the community (I live in orchard park) outweigh any reasons not to allow the development and want to ensure that Laugharne remains a living town with families encouraged with opportunities for locals and children to have sports facilities close by. -
I am a resident of Laugharne and the secretary of Laugharne Rugby Football Club.
My daughter is considering moving to Laugharne and is looking at sending my granddaughter to Laugharne Primary School.
I have seen the reasons for refusal to the planning request and feel that the removal of the hedge and trees can be justified in order to expand the size of the field to accommodate better facilities for the people in the township.
We have an abundance of flora and fauna in the township and what we don’t have is the following:
1. Parking for School.
2. Decent sports facilities for School.
3. Decent sports facilities for people living or visiting Laugharne.
4.Parking for people using said sports facilities.
5. When the field planning is agreed to we can then have a lease or ownership to allow us to apply for grants which will greatly assist the development of sports in and around the township.
I ask that planning department looks into this in great detail and the needs of the community rather than just applying a rule to deny the planning request. -
Thank you for forwarding, albeit disappointing news about the refusal of planning application referenced above and I herewith wish to appeal as detailed below:-
Just to add to the personal details I provided with my previous e-mail which was in support of the planning application; I am a retired Senior Project Manager having spent over forty years working on the supervision of major motorways both in UK and overseas.
Whilst I understand the importance of biodiversity in today's climate of sustainability there are other factors that I believe are relevant to be considered, with all due respect, do not appear to have much mention in your report. One very salient point is that this application is for the benefit and wellbeing of the local community. It is very important for those both young and old to have good and up to date sports and exercise facilities. It is clearly evident that the current facilities have not changed much from my playing days over 50 years ago. The township of Laugharne is steeped in history and deserves to have improved leisure facilities for the present and the future. It is my opinion that there is a balance to be achieved between the planning regulations and the needs of the local community, and I would trust that this is given further due consideration in the reappraisal of the planning application.
I have, over the last twenty years or so, as the most senior consulting engineer's representative on site, have had to make difficult environment decisions to balance progress and at the same time being mindful of sustainability and biodiversity. I would like to think that we as one team, working together, of Client, Contractor and Consultant have achieved this on all my projects. Having had the opportunity of playing rugby and cricket in Laugharne, it has stood me in good stead throughout my adult life and given me lots of good memories, no more so than seeing the rugby team climbing up the leagues over the last few seasons and it surly is of great importance that these players have the opportunity to play, train and use compliant and modern facilities, it must be disheartening for them to see much better facilities at the away grounds that they play.
I feel sure that LCSA can make some further suggestions in respect of the environment to overcome your concerns over the loss of the trees mentioned in your report, surly a satisfactory solution can be found to both allow the planning application to be approved and the township of Laugharne and its wonderful community to appreciate an upgraded sports facility for everyone to be proud of. Should this happen, I would be happy to provide a couple to tree saplings in loving memory of my late Dad, Councilor Reggie Rees and his fellow Councilor and great friend Frankie John.
Finally, in these trying times for UK and the rest of the world, I believe it is very relevant and necessary that local communities are provided with the facilities where they can get together exercise and support their children and young adults to make Wales great again. I hope and pray that you are able to look positively on this much needed application. I know that this community works very hard of providing the functions that get the community together and approval of this application will make it so much better in so many different ways.
sincere thanks
Tony Rees -
I refer to my previous statement and wish to include that I am a local resident and have been a member of Laugharne Rugby Club for over 55 years
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This refusal is not justifiable when considered against the benefits to the community.
No value can be attributed to the cost of the land which will be gifted to the community, thus safeguarding and improving the sporting, recreational and social benefits to the community of Laugharne for generations to come.
Our facilities are totally inadequate and need improvement.We have been trying to achieve this for over 20 years. The Planning Officers comments that the Public benefits are deemed theoretical and un achievable highlights his complete lack of knowledge of the history of this application and the efforts of the community in trying to improve the facilities.
The absence of a footpath between Laugharne and Broadway is an ‘accident waiting to happen’. It will be too late when a child is killed or injured whilst walking to school. The developer is prepared to provide this.
The opportunity to aquire land for future development of school facilities cannot be ignored.
How can it be said that biodiversity net benefit cannot be demonstrated when there has been the offer to transplant the trees in question and plant substantially more new trees.
I ask that you consider that the massive community benefits outweighs the views and opinion of one planning officer. -
I am a resident of Laugharne and Rugby Club Member, also secretary of LCSA.
I respectfully urges Planning and Environment Decisions Wales to allow
this appeal and grant planning permission.
The proposed development is viable, policy-compliant, and essential to
the future of Laugharne. We strongly object to the Council’s refusal
and believe it does not reflect the needs, aspirations, or best
interests of our community.
Thank you for considering our views.
Yours sincerely,
David Pearce
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