News
Pembrokeshire farm park wins planning battle after public outcry
A PEMBROKESHIRE farm barn attraction, which gained a 3,500-strong petition of support after a previous refusal, has been approved after an agreement was reached on improving access.
Late in 2023, Stuart Williams of Home Farm, Leweston, near Camrose, was refused retrospective permission by planning officers to retain the Willhome Farm Barn farm park – and ancillary buildings – built in June 2022.
The site – whose facilities were used by the council’s own educational providers and parents of children with learning difficulties – is home to rabbits, llamas, donkeys, poultry, owls, goats, ponies and pigs, along with a café building, public conveniences, a children’s play area, and visitor parking.
The attraction was set up as a form of diversification after the farm lost its entire cattle herd through bovine tuberculosis; developing over time to having more than 150 children and students visiting a week.
One of the issues for a previous refusal by officers was due to highway safety concerns.
Since that refusal, a change.org petition, Grant Planning Permission for Willhome Farm Barn in Pembrokeshire, was set up by Hook-based Jessica Austin, attracting more than 3,500 signatures.
Jessica’s petition said: “This decision not only affects this resilient family but also impacts schools attended with over 6,000 pupils, by adults from local wellbeing centres and families with children who have autism or learning difficulties like mine.”
In 2024, the applicant submitted a fresh call, which was again due to be decided by planning officers until, at the request of local county councillor, and former council leader, Cllr Jamie Adams, a special meeting was held in July backing a decision for it to be made by councillors.
At December’s planning committee, members agreed to a site visit, the applicants given a “last-chance saloon” to address issues including highway access through potential passing bays.
The application returned to the February 18 planning committee, with a recommendation of approval after amended plans “identifying a number of passing places within the local highway network to accommodate highway improvement works” were received.
At the meeting, members heard the attraction provided “well-needed facilities in Pembrokeshire that makes a real difference to the lives of over 6,000 students a year.”
Cllr Jamie Adams, who has championed the cause of the attraction, spoke again at the meeting, saying: “I implore members to support this important application once again; what this has to offer in terms of children and young adults is a valuable alternative in terms of the standard curriculum.
“It’s been a long time pulling the strands together, now we have a scheme that’s fully supported by all parties.”
Approval was moved by Cllr Alistair Cameron, who said: “The only issue we had was transport issues, it seems to me we’ve resolved that satisfactorily; it’s a great facility.”
He was joined by Cllr Mark Carter, of a nearby ward, who said: “there’s universal like for this in my area, I’m verry happy to approve this.”
The application was unanimously approved by committee members.
A BROAD HAVEN man has pleaded guilty to stalking and to breaching his bail conditions on two occasions. He has denied a separate charge of criminal damage and is due to be sentenced later this month.
Thomas Jones, aged 34, of Croft Road, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Apr 7), where he was dealt with for multiple offences involving the same female complainant.
Jones admitted stalking Ms Knight between December 5, 2024, and January 22, 2025, in Milford Haven. The court heard that he visited her address several times, sent over 100 calls and messages in a short period in December, and left both a parcel and an envelope containing a spa voucher.
He initially denied the stalking charge, but changed his plea to guilty on March 17. The offence falls under Section 2A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.
Jones has denied a charge of criminal damage alleged to have occurred on July 21, 2024, when he is accused of damaging a door, radiator, cat litter tray and scratch post belonging to Ms Knight. He pleaded not guilty to this allegation on January 24.
The court also heard that Jones was arrested twice in March for breaches of bail. On March 22, he missed a curfew condition by returning home five hours late. The following day, on March 23, he allegedly contacted Ms Knight directly, in breach of an order prohibiting contact. He admitted both breaches, though those matters were formally recorded as having been dealt with at an earlier hearing.
The magistrates’ bench was chaired by Mrs C Kendrick, sitting with Mrs A Taylor-Jones and Mrs J Morris. Dennis Davies appeared for the Crown Prosecution Service, and Jones was represented by Fenn Richards.
Jones has been remanded on conditional bail until his next hearing on April 22, 2025, at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court. Bail conditions include:
- Not to contact Tessa Knight directly or indirectly, except via an approved device for child contact purposes,
- Not to enter Milford Haven,
- To reside and sleep each night at 38 Croft Road, Broad Haven.
A pre-sentence report is being prepared ahead of the hearing.
A PEMBROKE DOCK man has pleaded guilty to assault and criminal damage during a domestic incident last year.
Sam Wilkins, aged 42, of Bethel Road, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Apr 7), where he admitted charges of assault by beating and causing criminal damage.
The offences took place on November 7, 2024, in Pembrokeshire. Wilkins was accused of assaulting a woman and damaging a coat valued at £60.
He also admitted breaching bail conditions on March 18, 2025, after contacting an individual he had been ordered not to communicate with.
The bench, chaired by Mrs C Kendrick, sitting with Mrs A Taylor-Jones and Mrs J Morris, remanded Wilkins on conditional bail until April 15, 2025, when he is due to return to court for sentencing.
Bail conditions include:
No contact, directly or indirectly, with named individuals involved in the case,
Not to enter a specified address in Kilgetty,
Child contact to be arranged via a third party only,
Full compliance with probation requirements for a pre-sentence report.
Wilkins was represented by Jess Hill, and the prosecution was led by Dennis Davies of CPS Wales (South West).
A JOHNSTON man has been fined and disqualified from driving after admitting to drink driving on the same day he appeared in court.
Stefan Banica, aged 21, of Woodlands View, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Apr 7), where he pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol earlier that day.
The court heard that Banica was found to be over the legal alcohol limit while driving a motor vehicle.
The bench, chaired by Mrs C Kendrick and including Mrs A Taylor-Jones and Mrs J Morris, imposed a £500 fine, ordered him to pay £85 in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service, and a £50 victim surcharge. He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months.
Banica was represented by Fenn Richards, with Dennis Davies prosecuting for CPS Wales.
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