A Welsh Assembly Government Inquiry into proposed developments at two North Pembrokeshire quarries will begin on March 16th in Nevern.

Planning applications for the extension of two sand quarries at Trefigin and Pantgwyn, in the north of the National Park, were considered and recommended for approval by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority in 2009 but have been called in by the Welsh Assembly for determination.

At this Inquiry, representatives of both quarries will provide evidence as to why they need the permission, details of the proposal, the steps they intend to take in mitigation and their final restoration proposals for when the sand has been extracted.

Representatives of the National Park Authority will justify their assessment of the two applications as to why conditional planning permission should be granted.

It is understood that the Campaign for National Parks, a national charity that campaigns and speaks out to protect and promote National Parks, will also attend the Inquiry to object to the granting of planning permission in both cases.

They consider that to grant permission would be contrary to current Government advice and unacceptable harm would be done to the landscape of the National Park.

Chairman of the National Park Authority's Development Management Committee, Cllr Mike Williams said: "We have worked closely with the Campaign for National Parks on a number of projects but in this particular case, have opposing views.

"The Authority considers that it has "rigorously assessed" the proposals and has worked with all the statutory consultees to achieve an acceptable scheme. We have been mindful of the economic and social wellbeing of Park communities and are of the view that the proposals for reinstatement will, in the longer term, provide a richer and more diverse landscape as a result of these proposals."

Park Authority Members were minded to approve both applications following a government-required "rigorous assessment" of all the issues, subject to the imposition of a number of planning conditions.

Following Government policy, the applications had to be referred to the Welsh Assembly before a decision could be issued to consider the proposals against a more strategic framework.

The two applications have now been ‘called in' by the Minister for the Environment, Sustainability and Housing, Jane Davidson AM and the Inquiry held by the Planning Inspectorate will commence later this month.