Some home owners in Waterston opposed the application

County councillors will visit the site on an industrial estate at Waterston before ruling on the application.

But permission for accommodation for 28 workers at a farm near Haverfordwest was granted at a meeting on Tuesday.

Around 500 workers will be needed to build the two liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals planned for the county.

Members of Pembrokeshire Council's planning committee were told it was not known how many of these would come from outside the area.

But there were claims a shortage of suitable accommodation was driving up rents and house prices in the area.

An application to house 28 workers, employed by a contractors working on the LNG terminals, in static caravans at East Hook Farm near Haverfordwest was approved.

From our house and garden we can see right over the site Stanley and Patricia Thomas

But a plan to house a further 100 contractors in 34 caravans on a field at Waterston Industrial Estate, near one of the proposed terminals at the Petroplus site, was deferred.

The application was opposed by Milford Haven and Llanstadwell community councillors and in a petition signed by 101 people.

Councillor Ken Edwards told the meeting: "Here you have a village whose occupants have actually agreed with LNG development so are not Nimbys.

'Difficult decision'

"They have lived with the (existing) refinery for 35 years but good normal people can get stretched.

"This is an entirely inappropriate place for housing for workers."

But councillor Brian Hall said the road links to the site were suitable. He said the application for the site was only for a two year period and it would return to industrial use after that.

One of the terminals will be built at Petroplus site at Waterston

Councillors were warned they could expect other such applications for sites in Pembrokeshire due to the influx of workers and a need for additional accommodation.

Councillor Pearl Llewellyn said: "Being the wife of an ex-construction worker I know a lot of these working men will want to bring their families with them."

She said it was a difficult decision balancing the needs for more accommodation with the objections of communities and successfully called for a site visit.

The land borders the home of retired couple Stanley and Patricia Thomas who organised the petition.

Mrs Thomas said after the meeting: "I'm glad that they are coming to see the site because we might get them to support us.

"From our house and garden we can see right over the site and we don't want 100 men living right next to us."