A WARNING that affordable housing shortages will become worse has been issued by a Waterston businessman.

Darren Thomas, of Coast-to-Coast Caravans has been approached by contractors saying they cannot find enough hotel and B&B accommodation for an expected 3,000 project workers.

In the private sector, he has heard of £500 a week rent being charged for a three-bedroom house.

"Local people cannot afford that," he said.

Operating as Accommodate Ltd, Mr Thomas has applied for planning permission for a temporary caravan site on Waterston Road, Steynton.

He said the 40 caravans on an industrial estate would house 150 workers, providing a solution to a small part of the problem.

A local security firm would enforce a strict no noise or nuisance policy 24 hours a day and a manager would maintain the site.

Neighbours Pat and Danny Thomas have collected over 200 signatures on a petition objecting to the plans.

Mr Thomas defends his application saying his own home is only 60 metres from the site. "Would I create something unpleasant on my own doorstep?" he asked.

Promises of a six foot fence around the site do not allay Pat Thomas' fears. She says this will not protect the privacy of their first floor rooms.

Employing local people would solve the accommodation problem, but Mr Thomas said the workforce is just not there.

Spokesmen said the temporary accommodation had not been requested by Dragon LNG, Petroplus or South Hook.

The issue of increased housing shortages was raised in February by Pembrokeshire Action for the Homeless.

Manager Carol Crowther wrote to contractors and local politicians hoping companies would invest in new housing that could later be made available to local people.

She said: "Rents are already increasing and there is a reduction in the number of properties available."