Council grants approval for seahorse and fish sculptures in Fishguard and Goodwick

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.
It added: “In regard to the seahorse sculpture, the site is located along an existing formal walkway known as Marine Walk, which is already frequented by walkers and visitors to the area, with the path for the walk at a lower level than the built form to the east and south of the site.
“As such, the scale and location of the development is considered acceptable, whilst being viewed from the north within the context of the existing built form to the south.  The proposed design of the sculpture as a sea horse pays due regard to the coastal nature and views from the site towards the harbour from the Marine Walk.
“The backdrop to the site, albeit of a residential nature, the proposed metal sculpture would not have a significantly detrimental impact on its surroundings, which is made up of a variety of materials and form.  The proposed sea horse sculpture would be located approximately 16 metres from the boundary to the nearest dwelling, within the context of the Marine Walk path, therefore not having a significantly detrimental impact on the privacy or amenity of the occupiers of nearby dwellings.”
The application was conditionally approved. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​