Firm apologises for error at site of medieval cemetery
A DEVELOPER has apologised amid claims it left diggers and construction materials on top of a scheduled monument.
Welsh historic monuments body Cadw has visited the site in Frondeg Terrace, Llanelli, where developer Jehu is building 29 homes.
It follows complaints alleging that machines used to build the properties for social housing provider Pobl had been placed on top of an ancient cemetery – feet away from skeletons and a scheduled monument.
Jehu has now apologised for the situation, and said it is looking at carrying out additional training for its site operatives.
The site was declared an area of national importance in 2010 after excavation work revealed it dated back to the Medieval period.
Carbon dating showed there had been burials within the cemetery dating from AD1010 to AD1430.
Clive Cole, who lives in nearby Capel Isaf Road, said planning consent for the Pobl development was granted on the understanding the medieval cemetery site would be fenced off.
He alleged that contractor Jehu had been storing JCB diggers, heavy plant machinery and building materials, such as concrete blocks, there.
He said: “This scheduled monument is a rare find and is of national importance, since it dates back to between the 10th and 13th centuries – that’s the same era as Kidwelly Castle and Owain Glyndwr.
“We couldn’t believe that such a rare find was sitting in an unassuming field next to our home of 40 years. It’s a national treasure.
“When the archaeologists opened the graves we saw the ancient remains, skeletons facing east-west. Just inches below the surface lay this vast insight into life from almost 1,000 years ago.”
He recommended that the authorities demand a survey to investigate any potential damage.
A spokeswoman for Jehu said the firm understood there had been some concerns about the area in question, and the firm was working with Cadw to ensure the best resolution.
She said: “The archaeological area is to be retained in the new affordable housing scheme design and is to be fully landscaped over in the course of the next two to three weeks as we complete the scheme in line with local authority planning and Cadw’s requirements.
“We recognised that there was an error on our part, we have apologised and we are working with Cadw to put everything right.
“We are looking at additional training for our site operatives so that they understand the nature and importance of these types of developments and the procedures for working in protected environments.”
A spokesman for Pobl, which is behind the 29-home development, said there was a condition attached to the area which was discharged following a watching brief over the development by Dyfed Archaeological Trust.
The spokesman said: “We’re aware that one or two residents have raised concerns with Jehu about activity on the protected site. We understand that Cadw attended a meeting with residents and the contractor on site – the conservation area is fenced off.”
He said the protected site was due to be landscaped by the contractor, so there would be activity on the site.
Pobl was satisfied, he added, that Jehu fully respected the planning conditions.
The watching brief, carried out by Dyfed Archaeological Trust, said in a report published in February this year: “The scheduled area was demarcated and fenced off in May, 2018, prior to development works commencing.
“Part of the scheduled area had been tracked over during geotechnical works, but due to the compactness of the ground in this upper part of the site, no below ground disturbance was caused.
“The erection of the security fencing ensured that no further accidental access by machinery in to the scheduled area would occur.”