A council scheme to site a seahorse sculpture and a wind-powered shoal of fish in Fishguard and Goodwick have been given the go-ahead by county planners despite potential safety and loss of privacy concerns.
A Pembrokeshire County Council application to its planners sought full permission for the two sculptures.
They are a five-metre-high wind powered artwork of a shoal of fish mounted and circling around a galvanized steel pole on a paved area outside Ocean Lab, The Parrog, Goodwick, belonging to Sea Trust CIC, and a near-five metre stainless steel sculpture of a seahorse surrounded by seagrass and mounted on a rock adjacent to Marine Walk, Fishguard.
The siting of a community funded sculpture to the on the north of the Ocean Lab was granted by planners back in 2022.
Fishguard and Goodwick Town Council agreed a “non-specified response” to the application. Document for planners listed its response: “Although the sculptures are very striking, there was concern raised over the ongoing maintenance of both of the sculptures being considered.
“Regarding the Seahorse Sculpture, there was also concern raised about safety relating to the design, with the potential of injury to people and wildlife. There does not appear to be anything in place to prevent climbing on the sculpture which has a lot of sharp protrusions, so the town council would like assurance that an appropriate risk assessment has been considered.”
One letter raising concerns about the seahorse sculpture was also received, referring to potential noise, loss of privacy, impact on views, saying it would be overbearing, out of context and character, and does not complement existing artwork and shift in the meaning of space, as well as raising concerns about a devaluation of property.
An officer report said the shoal of fish wind sculpture would feature an anti-climb mechanism, with the lower spikes of the seahorse covered by the seagrass element of the sculpture, which will also act as an anti-climb material.
It also said the sculptures are owned by Pembrokeshire County Council, who would be responsible for their maintenance and will be covered by public liability insurance.
The application was conditionally approved.