A CALL to allow a 600-acre Pembrokeshire potato farm to keep a holiday let erected “in innocence” without permission, which is said to be essential for supporting the business, has been approved.

In an application recommended for approval at the January 13 meeting of Pembrokeshire County council’s planning committee, Mr and Mrs I and F Elliot sought permission for the continued use of a mobile unit with a veranda as tourist accommodation at Cresswell Barn Farm, Cresswell Quay.

Cresswell Barn Farm supplies potatoes to Welsh supermarkets and the site has a certified campsite.

The application was before the committee rather than being delegated for an officer decision as it was recommended for approval, subject to the completion of a Section 106 legal agreement essentially keeping it for holiday use only, despite being in conflict with the development plan and was made by a close family member of an officer in the planning service.

An officer report accompanying the application said an enforcement investigation was started way back in 2012 following a claim a caravan was located at the site and was being used for residential purposes.

That was closed in 2023; a 2022 investigation taking place after an allegation a structure on-site was being used for holiday letting.

A 2023 certificate of lawfulness application was made to regularise the breach of planning, saying the unit had been used for residential purposes for more than a decade, but insufficient information was provided to allow it, the report said.

An appeal against this was later made to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) but was withdrawn by the applicant.

It said the enforcement action was ongoing, leading to the formal planning application.

Of the site itself, the report said: “The agent has confirmed that due to many variables, there is no typical year for the enterprise in terms of profitability and that the income generated from tourist related activities at the farm, is critical to the farming enterprise.  The high-quality holiday unit therefore provides an additional income stream for the farming enterprise.”

It added: “The holiday unit is located adjacent to buildings that make up the farm complex, with the accommodation offering guests an immersive rural experience that introduces them to aspects of the rural economy.

“Information submitted in support of this application confirms that the income from the holiday uses at the site is critical to supplementing the potato farming enterprise.”

Speaking at the meeting, Fiona Elliot said the holiday let was a small-scale part of the wider farm complex; the building having been on-site for some 15 years, the applicants more recently “in innocence” using it as a holiday let, which visitors have described as “five-star,” not realising they needed planning permission.

Following a call by Cllr Brian Hall to back the officer recommendation of conditional approval, members unanimously supported that.

UK-WIDE plans would ban new cage systems from 2027 and end all enriched cages by 2032, as charity urges public to respond

A UK-wide public consultation on proposals to phase out cages for laying hens has been launched, with animal welfare charity RSPCA Cymru describing the move as a major step towards a cage-free future in Wales.

The consultation, led by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and being run jointly with the Welsh Government, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive, is seeking views on reforms affecting laying hens, pullets (young hens reared for egg production) and breeder layers.

Under the proposals, the building or first-time use of any new enriched “colony” cage systems would be banned from 2027. The consultation also proposes ending the use of all such cage systems by 2032.

In addition, the plans would extend the ban to all birds currently kept in conventional “battery” cages by removing the existing exemption for smaller flocks of 350 birds or fewer.

RSPCA Cymru said the announcement was particularly significant for Wales, which it noted has one of the highest proportions of free-range hen flocks globally, and is urging the public to respond during the eight-week consultation period.

David Bowles, the RSPCA’s head of public affairs, said: “The announcement of this long-awaited consultation is a huge step forward for animal welfare in Wales… We are urging the public to make their voices heard during this eight-week consultation period so we can move closer to a cage-free future for farmed animals across the UK.

“Every year across the UK, millions of farmed animals are kept in cages, unable to express their natural behaviours and experiencing an unimaginable amount of suffering. Seventy-three per cent of the British public oppose the use of cages for hens, and we have always been clear: cages cannot be part of British farming any longer.”

The RSPCA says caged systems remain in widespread use, with around ten million hens still kept in enriched cages across the UK. The charity argues that, despite being marketed as an improvement, enriched cages provide only a limited increase in space compared with the former battery cages, and still prevent birds from fully expressing natural behaviours such as dustbathing and foraging.

The charity said its campaigning on the use of cages dates back to the 1960s, and noted that its RSPCA Assured welfare standards already prohibit cages on certified farms.

RSPCA Cymru also linked the consultation to the Senedd election due to take place in May, saying it is pressing political parties to include stronger animal welfare commitments in their manifestos. The charity’s priorities include a prohibition on enriched cages for laying hens, and restrictions on other confinement systems, including farrowing crates used in pig farming.

Mr Bowles added that between five and six million pigs reared for slaughter are born in farrowing crates each year in the UK, a practice not permitted under RSPCA welfare standards. He said the charity would continue campaigning for wider reforms, and expects further consultation later this year.

THE FUW (Farmers Union of Wales) will begin 2026 on a charitable and community-focused note with the return of its annual Farmhouse Breakfast Week.

More than twenty breakfast events will take place across Wales, bringing farmers, families and rural communities together over locally produced food while raising funds for good causes. Last year’s initiative raised more than £21,000 for local and national charities, including over £13,500 for the FUW President’s chosen charity, the Wales Air Ambulance.

This year’s Farmhouse Breakfast Week will also shine a spotlight on the forthcoming Senedd election in May, with the FUW calling on the next Welsh Government to deliver stability, sustainability and long-term support for Welsh family farms.

A flagship breakfast event in Cardiff Bay, sponsored by Samuel Kurtz MS, will bring together politicians and key stakeholders to discuss the future of farming in Wales.

The week will also provide an opportunity for farmers to learn more about the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), as well as the local expert support and services offered by the FUW as the scheme moves from design into delivery.

Ahead of the event, FUW President Ian Rickman said: “January can be a challenging time for farmers, with short days, cold weather and heavy workloads. Farmhouse Breakfast Week offers a welcome chance for farmers, friends and rural communities to come together, share the load and enjoy a hearty breakfast.

“With the Senedd election just months away, this year’s breakfasts will also provide an important platform to highlight the FUW’s key priorities — stability, sustainability and long-term support for Welsh family farms.

“There’s a warm welcome to everyone, and we’re looking forward to successful events in kitchens, community centres and cafés across Wales once again, celebrating the best of local produce while raising funds for vital charities, including the Wales Air Ambulance.”

The week is once again being supported by FUW Insurance Services Ltd, which was recently named among the Insurance Age Top 100 UK Brokers for 2025.

FUW Insurance Services provides tailored insurance solutions for agricultural, commercial and personal needs, from farm and smallholding cover to life, home and motor insurance. The company focuses on delivering personalised local service across Wales, with profits reinvested into supporting the Union’s work on behalf of Welsh farmers.

Chair of FUW Insurance Services, Ann Beynon OBE, said:
“We’re delighted to be supporting Farmhouse Breakfast Week once again. Rooted at the heart of rural communities, our business is proud to help bring people together to celebrate outstanding Welsh produce, enjoy the company of friends and neighbours, and highlight how our services support rural businesses.

“The week perfectly showcases the strength and spirit of rural Wales — all over a plate of breakfast. We’re incredibly grateful to the local producers and volunteers whose support makes these events possible year after year.”