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New holiday lodges at Pembrokeshire deer park get approval

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PLANS for disability-friendly holiday lodges at a Pembrokeshire deer park attraction which could be a Wales tourism “benchmark” have been backed, but a final decision is likely to rest with full council.

In an application recommended for refusal at the January 14 meeting of Pembrokeshire County council’s planning committee, Mr and Mrs Evans are seeking permission for 15 lodges at Great Wedlock, Gumfreston, near Tenby, the site of a 176-acre deer farm attraction, which includes animals from the late Queen’s estate, and a more recently-granted market traders’ barn.

An earlier application for the lodges was recommended for refusal by officers at last July’s planning meeting, but, at the start of that meeting, members heard the application had been withdrawn at the agent’s behest.

Reasons for refusal given to members included it was outside of an identified settlement boundary in a countryside location, it was considered to have an adverse impact on visual amenity and did not include a Green Infrastructure statement.

The applicants have previously said build costs to complete the development would be circa £2m.

Following the withdrawal, amended proposals have been submitted by the applicants through agent Atriarc Planning, following a consultation recently held with St Florence Community Council.

St Florence Community Council did not support the previous application, but has supported the latest scheme.

Speaking at the January meeting, Alan Jones, on behalf of the community council, said it was now supporting the “much-improved design” which, amongst other concerns, now addressed the issue of a much wider range of disabilities – including the blind and deaf and hard of hearing – rather than just wheelchair use.

Applicant Andrew Evans told the meeting the proposals would support a whole raft of people with varying disabilities, Great Wedlock already taking a “head-on” approach supporting people with disabilities through special vehicles at the deer park, and encouraging people with disabilities to apply for staff vacancies.

“This is not an application for yet another holiday park, it is a well thought out one for those who have a disability, which will make them a majority rather than a minority; it will make us at the forefront for people in Wales to visit with a disability.”

Local member, Cllr Rhys Jordan moved the application be supported in spite of an officer recommendation for refusal, saying it was “an opportunity to address a clear shortage [for disability-friendly accommodation] and a chance for Pembrokeshire to lead the way in accessible tourism,” adding: “Most importantly the lodges will be 100 per cent accessible and set a benchmark, positioning Pembrokeshire as a leader in accessible tourism.”

He finished: “Approve this forward-thinking proposal today.”

Officers have recommended planners refuse the scheme, for similar reasons to previously, saying the material considerations put forward in the agent’s supporting planning statement “are not sufficient to overcome the conflict with relevant Development Plan policies”.

Members voted 11 in favour to two against supporting the scheme.

The committee’s backing of the proposal takes the form of a ‘minded to’ support, meaning the proposal will return to a future meeting as it is against an officer recommendation, and, if supported a second time, will ultimately have to be decided by full council, in this case potentially at the March meeting.

The applicants’ previous scheme for the trading barn took an identical route, being decided by full council after repeatedly being recommended for refusal.

Community

Paul Davies discusses community transport solutions with PACTO

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PRESELI PEMBRKOEHIRE Senedd Member Paul Davies has recently met the Pembrokeshire Association of Community Transport Organisations (PACTO). PACTO provide services and help for people who don’t have access to their own transport and who don’t have or can’t use conventional public transport services.

Mr Davies discussed PACTO’s work in delivering more accessible community transport solutions in Pembrokeshire. They also discussed PACTO’s Community Transport Transformation project and the findings from the consultation that PACTO carried out last year.

Mr Davies said, “PACTO do a fantastic job in helping people travel across Pembrokeshire and I’m pleased to have met the team and learnt more about their work.”

“PACTO play an enormous role in making Pembrokeshire a much more accessible place for all. They help enable people to travel more freely across Pembrokeshire and live more independently.

“Travelling across Pembrokeshire is not without its challenges and so it was great to talk to the PACTO team about how they plan to transform community travel across the county and build on their good work in our communities”

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News

Stoddart puts council funding gap figures under scrutiny

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A DISCREPANCY in Pembrokeshire County Council’s budget documentation has raised concerns about transparency in reporting the projected funding gap for 2025-26.

Local political commentator and county councillor, Mike Stoddart, has questioned changes between two versions of Appendix D, presented to Cabinet in December and February, which outline how the Council plans to bridge the significant funding shortfall.

Pembrokeshire County Council: Statutory duty to agree on a balanced budget

In December, documents stated that over the past 11 years, the Council had addressed a cumulative funding gap of £174.8 million through a mix of budget savings, Council Tax increases, and reserve use. A breakdown showed that £110.2 million (63%) had been achieved through base budget reductions, with Council Tax increases contributing £43.3 million (24.8%), Council Tax premiums adding £11.7 million (6.7%), and reserve funding accounting for £9.6 million (5.5%).

However, the February version of Appendix D omitted references to cumulative funding and detailed figures, instead focusing solely on the projected funding gap for 2025-26, which had also decreased from £34.1 million to £27.4 million.

Stoddart argues that without the cumulative context, the figures become “mathematically meaningless” and has expressed concern that the Council has not provided an explanation for the change.

Speaking to The Herald, he said: “It is noticeable that the December document presented cumulative figures, but in February, this crucial context has disappeared without explanation. If these funding gaps and the methods used to bridge them are not cumulative, they don’t make mathematical sense.”

The Council has a statutory duty to agree on a balanced budget for 2025-26 by 11 March 2025, which will involve difficult decisions regarding budget savings, potential Council Tax increases, and the use of reserves.

The Herald has approached Pembrokeshire County Council for clarification on why the format of the funding report changed between December and February and whether the omission of cumulative data was intentional or a revision based on new financial assessments.

More to follow as this story develops.

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Crime

Police-chase teenager remanded in custody over drug and firearm offences

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A PEMBROKESHIRE teenager who was previously granted bail on drug-dealing charges has now been remanded in custody after facing additional allegations, including conspiracy to possess a firearm.

Harrison Billing, 18, of Jury Lane, Haverfordwest, had been granted bail following his arrest for possession of cocaine with intent to supply in Milford Haven on December 27, 2024.

He was also charged with possession of criminal property, relating to £925.31 in cash, and dangerous driving after a high-speed police pursuit ended with a Mercedes crashing into a house on Hamilton Terrace.

Billing initially appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on December 30, where he admitted the driving offences but was bailed pending further court proceedings. However, he has now been remanded in custody following the emergence of new, more serious allegations.

Court records show Billing has been further charged with conspiring to possess a firearm without a certificate, additional drug supply offences, and possession of a knife.

These charges, combined with the existing drug-dealing allegations, resulted in him being sent back into custody ahead of his next appearance at Swansea Crown Court.

The case continues, with Billing due to appear in court again for a plea hearing.

The Herald understands that the new charges played a significant role in the decision to revoke his bail.

Meanwhile, his co-accused, Dylan Brown, 18, of Chestnut Way, Milford Haven, remains on bail, awaiting his next hearing related to the same December 27 incident.

More updates to follow as the case develops.

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