A SOUTH Pembrokeshire caravan park’s call to be allowed to keep site works completed without permission nearly a decade ago has been given the thumbs-up by the national park.

In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Richard Shannon, through agent Gerald Blain Associates Ltd, sought permission for a certificate of lawfulness for the retrospective siting of a waste treatment plant for the Windmills Caravan Park, Narberth Road, Tenby.

An application for a certificate of lawfulness allows an applicant to stay at or keep a development if they can provide proof of occupancy or use over a prolonged period.

A supporting statement accompanying the application said the plant was installed back in summer 2018, providing a receipt of purchase and an invoice for the installation works, 2018 Aerial imagery showing ground disturbance in the location where the tank is installed as well as other photographic evidence.

“Together, this evidence clearly demonstrates that the development was carried out and substantially completed in 2018 and has remained in situ since that date,” the statement said.

An officer report recommending the certificate of lawfulness be granted said Windmills Caravan Park is an established holiday caravan park located on Old Narberth Road, approximately two kilometres north of Tenby, occupying a sizeable rural site with static caravans, internal access roads, ancillary infrastructure and areas of open grassland.

Of the certificate call, it said: “The application relates to a package sewage treatment plant located within the south-eastern corner of the caravan park, adjacent to an established hedgerow and mature tree belt.

“The treatment plant is predominantly underground, with only limited above-ground features visible, including inspection chambers, ventilation equipment and associated control apparatus. The location was selected to serve the existing caravan park whilst remaining discreetly positioned within the wider site and benefiting from natural screening provided by the surrounding vegetation.”

In respect of the submitted information accompanying the application, it said: “As the application was submitted in 2026, the development has been in place for well in excess of the four-year enforcement period and is therefore immune from enforcement action. Accordingly, the Local Planning Authority is satisfied that the development is lawful for the purposes of Section 191 of the Act, and a Certificate of Lawfulness should be issued.”

The certificate of lawfulness was issued.

PLANS for works at a Pembrokeshire ‘bug farm’ to allow it “to maintain its high-quality farming, research, and educational facility” have been submitted to the national park.

In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Dr Sarah Beynon of Doctor Beynon’s Bug Farm Ltd, Lower Harglodd, St Davids, through agent Pembroke Design Ltd, seeks permission to for the removal and replacement of a shed on site with a modern one, which the applicant says will “allow the business to extend its season to the visitor experience”.

Dr Beynon’s Bug Farm, just outside St Davids, is the vision of Dr Sarah Beynon, who wanted to combine her love of farming, academic research and education by setting up a centre of excellence in her hometown of St Davids.

It offers a ‘friendly quirky and unique attraction’ for nature lovers and foodies set on a historic Welsh farm.

It boasts a tropical bug zoo, a bug museum, a recently opened nature recovery centre, a farming history museum, a farm trail across wildflower meadows, wetland and woodland, a peaceful walled garden, an art gallery, an indoor play barn and gift shop.

The farm is also home to Grub Kitchen, the UK’s first edible insect café, which offers a nature-friendly menu created from largely organic and local produce, with plenty of non-insect options too.

A supporting statement accompanying the application says the post-war shed, originally used for farm machinery by the applicant’s uncle has long passed its ‘sell by date’, and is not practical or feasible to repair; its replacement “will allow the Bug Farm business to continue to use it to provide educational opportunity and match the building to the rest of the farm buildings”.

The statement adds: “The farm has been named as one of Wales’s top 10 farms for rare arable plants and was used as a 2026 PCNPA case study for a private Naturfa site. Ten percent of the farm has been planted with native woodland since 2023, and the farm has been invited to be designated as part of the National Forest of Wales and will apply for Naturfa status.”

It went on to say: “In creating the nature reserve Sarah has created an educational facility to showcase the work done and to explain the effects it has on improving the wildlife habitat. It has been a huge success.

“The existing proposed Nature Discovery Centre is an educational space to enthuse people about nature and what they can do to reverse the declines of wildlife by discovering just how fascinating it is.

“Over the last few years, work has been carried out on the Nature Recovery Education Centre. Phase 2- Fit Out is due to commence shortly.

“The current proposal to replace the shed will allow the site to maintain its high-quality farming, research, and educational facility.”

It finished: “Once complete the site will enhance the great agricultural, research and educational destination for schools, universities, conservation/ farming groups and day visitors alike.”

The application will be considered by Park planners at a later date.

New three-year development plan aims to increase the use and visibility of Welsh across the company’s services and workplace

WALES & WEST UTILITIES has launched a new Welsh Language Development Plan as part of a renewed commitment to supporting and promoting the language.

Announced ahead of the National Eisteddfod, the three-year plan sets out practical measures aimed at embedding Welsh more widely across the company’s operations.

The gas emergency and pipeline service has also refreshed its existing Welsh Language Scheme.

Both documents were developed in collaboration with the Welsh Language Commissioner’s office and are intended to improve services for Welsh-speaking customers, communities, employees and other stakeholders.

Planned measures include increasing the visibility of Welsh across company communications, helping employees use more Welsh in the workplace and ensuring the language continues to be considered when services are planned and delivered.

Gwyn Thomas, Senior Communication and Customer Manager at Wales & West Utilities, said: “The Welsh language is a vital part of Wales’s identity and culture and, as the company which operates the gas distribution network across Wales, we are proud to play our part in supporting its continued growth.

“We have worked in partnership with the Welsh Language Commissioner’s office to co-create our Development Plan and update our Welsh Language Scheme, demonstrating our long-term commitment to ensuring Welsh is valued throughout our organisation.”

The company said the updated scheme and development plan build on its existing bilingual working practices and its ambition to improve the experience of Welsh-speaking customers and employees.

Mr Thomas added: “Our teams have worked hard to get to this point and, now that we have these tools in place, we will continue to review progress against the development plan, ensuring Welsh remains an integral part of our culture.”

Welsh Language Commissioner Efa Gruffudd Jones welcomed the announcement.

She said: “I welcome Wales & West Utilities’ dedication to strengthening its Welsh-language provision.

“This development plan demonstrates a clear commitment to ensuring the Welsh language becomes a valuable part of the services the company provides. I look forward to seeing its positive impact on the availability and use of Welsh-language services in the future.”

Wales & West Utilities operates the gas distribution network across Wales and the south-west of England, transporting energy to more than 7.5 million people through around 35,000 kilometres of underground pipes.

Anyone who smells gas or suspects carbon monoxide should call the National Gas Emergency number immediately on 0800 111 999. Engineers are available 24 hours a day.