PLANS for a new ‘traveller site’ on the outskirts of a Pembrokeshire village, which has seen a petition of nearly 300 objections, and was previously refused by the national park, are again expected to be turned down.

Last May, members of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee refused a scheme for the creation of one traveller site incorporating one static caravan, one touring caravan, day/utility room and ecological enhancements (partly retrospective) on land at Froghall Yard, Moreton Lane, Saundersfoot.

The authority has served an enforcement notice on the site, which requires its return to its previous condition.

Nearly 300 people had signed a petition against the scheme and the objection to the application by David ‘Dai’ Evans of Pontypool, through agents Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd, was also shared by Saundersfoot’s community council.

Members had said granting permission “would be gross overdevelopment setting a precedent for development literally anywhere throughout the national park”.

A supporting statement accompanying the application stated: “The applicant belongs to a long-standing Romany Gypsy family and generations have lived a traditional and cultural lifestyle living in caravans all their lives.

“Mr Evans and his partner currently reside on an overcrowded Traveller site in Pontypool where living conditions are poor. They currently only live in rented accommodation and its brick and mortar and not in keeping with their cultural preference, as they prefer to live in a caravan.”

It said Mr Evans and family have stayed in a touring caravan at the site during the summer months since the late 1980s when it was owned by another gypsy family, later purchased by Mr Evans in 2023, clearing and refurbishing the site.

The application was refused on the grounds it was considered to result in unacceptable landscape impacts, a lack of information on whether the proposal will unacceptably disturb species and habitats within the countryside, and it “would introduce caravan development in an area of the National Park without landscape capacity, resulting in unacceptable cumulative impacts”.

The application has now been resubmitted, which is recommended for refusal at the January 28 meeting of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee.

Agent Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd says the application “is significantly improved and offers new extensive mitigation and net biodiversity gain,” and “is fully in accordance with the requirements in terms of sustainability, access, will not cause significant visual intrusion and is sensitively located within an area surrounded by natural vegetation”.

Saundersfoot Community Council has unanimously objected to the latest plans and 48 objections covering a wide range of concerns have been received, including one from a planning agent on behalf of a group of local residents, and one of 12 residents

The application is recommended for refusal on the grounds its has “resulted in unacceptable landscape impact on the National Park and potentially disturbed species and habitats within the countryside,” it “fails to demonstrate that impacts on otters and the integrity of the Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries Special Area of Conservation would be avoided,” and the proposal “would introduce caravan development in an area of the National Park without landscape capacity, resulting in unacceptable cumulative impacts”.

PLANS for a mini-golf tourist attraction on part of a Pembrokeshire seaside village family venue are expected to be approved by the national park later this month.

In an application recommended for approval at the January 28 meeting of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee, Lowri Silver of Kilgetty, seeks permission for a change of use of the ground floor area of Saundersfoot Harbour’s Coastal Schooner to an indoor mini golf tourist attraction.

The schooner – a prominent feature on the village’s National Events Deck – was built to showcase Saundersfoot’s maritime heritage and is part of the £10m Wales Coastal Centre project.

The building is a replica of a traditional coastal schooner vessel which operated from the harbour during the coal mining era to transport coal from Saundersfoot.

The interpretation centre closed in October 2024.

Last July, an application by Jonathan Thomas of ‘Schooner’ for a pirate-themed bar at the site was refused at the national park development management committee.

That rum bar scheme had raised concerns from the community council, saying it was “considered to be at odds with the current family venue and heritage elements”.

An officer report recommending refusal said that scheme was considered to fall outside the seaside village’s defined retail area and the impact on the amenity of the area and especially nearby residential dwellings.

At that meeting, Cllr Alec Cormack, one of the local county councillors, and member of the community council, called for a more family-friendly scheme for the site.

A supporting statement accompanying the new application says: “The maritime theme will be maintained as the attraction will maintain many of the existing interpretation information and the maritime theme.  The Schooner operated as an interpretation centre and high ropes offer for a year from October 2023 to October 2024.

“It has been open through the summer of 2025 on Tuesday and weekends. However, it has proved not to be a viable option to run the Schooner as an interpretation centre alone and an additional use is sought to maintain the interpretation element of the Schooner and to offer an all-weather attraction for local people and residents alike.”

It added: “The proposal will allow for the Schooner to be maintained and be open to the public thus protecting and enhancing the community facilities to meet the needs of local people and visitors alike. The proposal would also sustain the future of the interpretation element of the Schooner which in turn will protect and enhance the harbour, which is one of the key attractions in Pembrokeshire.”

The latest proposal is “strongly supported by Saundersfoot Community Council, particularly regarding the provision of an indoor family attraction; this was a unanimous decision,” a report for committee members recommending approval says.

It adds: “The proposed works will apart from planters, be fully contained within the existing structure and provide an indoor facility for residents and visitors, which is considered to enhance the visitor economy of the area, not just through the tourist season but also outside of the peak season, with the facility being an indoor facility with scope for all year-round operation.”

THE WELSH Liberal Democrats have called for stronger action to tackle homelessness in Wales, warning that the number of people relying on temporary accommodation has remained largely unchanged for more than two years.

The party cited the latest figures showing 10,818 people were living in temporary accommodation, with 1,287 occurrences of people being placed into temporary accommodation in October 2025.

Jane Dodds, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, said the figures showed that existing policy was not delivering meaningful improvement.

She said: “These numbers have barely changed in over two years and homeless people are being let down by consecutive Welsh Governments. Legislation by itself is meaningless unless the Welsh Government also [backs it with the resources and action needed].”

Ms Dodds added: “We must help these hidden victims of the cost-of-living crisis who have been ignored by those in Cardiff Bay for far too long.”

The party said it would seek to address the situation through a major expansion of social housing, proposing the construction of 30,000 new social homes for rent.

Ms Dodds said: “The Welsh Liberal Democrats would build 30,000 new social homes for rent, ensuring that people on low incomes or with experience of homelessness can access a safe and secure home.”

Focus on rural pressures

The comments come amid growing concern about the pressures faced by councils across Wales, with rising demand for emergency accommodation and increasing costs to local authorities.

Sandra Jervis, the party’s lead candidate for Ceredigion Penfro, said rural areas faced particular challenges and claimed Ceredigion’s figures highlighted systemic issues.

She said: “The fact that Ceredigion has the highest number of homeless people in Wales outside of Cardiff shows the failure of our Plaid-led local authority.”

Ms Jervis added: “Rural homelessness presents unique challenges beyond the scarcity of homes, with a combination of poverty and inaccessibility to jobs and other services accumulating into a dreadful sense of isolation from the rest of society.”

Housing campaigners have previously warned that rural homelessness can be less visible than in cities, with people more likely to “sofa surf”, live in insecure private rentals, or face long distances to access support services — factors that can make the problem harder to identify and resolve quickly.

The Welsh Government has previously pointed to its homelessness prevention approach and housing investment programmes, while councils continue to warn that demand is outstripping supply — particularly for larger family homes and genuinely affordable rental properties.