Pembrokeshire's first purpose-built equine hospital could be established at Robeston Wathen, after the veterinary practice behind the development was forced to shelve plans to locate the facility at Haverfordwest.

The Fenton Veterinary Practice has identified a site and is now awaiting planning permission from Pembrokeshire County Council.

The Haverfordwest-based practice had initially planned to establish a state-of-the-art equestrian centre at the County Showground, Haverfordwest.

But with air traffic forecast to increase at Withybush Airport, it was forced to abandon these plans because of the noise issue.

The practice has now come up with an alternative location and, if planning consent is granted, the hospital could be up and running by 2006.

Senior vet Richard Davies said it would be the first of its kind in west Wales and was a direct result of the expanding equine sector in this region.

"Our plan is to establish hospital facilities with stables, an exercise area and paddocks,'' he said.

Currently, equine work accounts for 10% of the workload at the Fenton Veterinary Practice. But this is increasing annually and is forecast to be a big growth sector over the next decade.

"This is a rapidly developing area. There have been huge advances in the field of equine medicine. There is so much more we can now do,'' said Richard Davies. "We have seen a decline in farm work and for this reason we are keen to look at new and expanding areas.''

Although Robeston Wathen is a more remote site from the Fenton practice than the County Showground, Mr Davies agrees that it will be a central location for horse owners in Pembrokeshire.

The land is owned by one of the practice vets. Although the development would be smaller than the one intended for Withybush there is great potential, he added.

"There is no other facility like this in west Wales and it would be one of very few in Wales,'' said Mr Davies.