Charlie Price reassures locals at packed public meeting in Monkton, but says: “Not even the Prime Minister himself could stop this event”

A PUBLIC meeting was held at Dezza’s Cabin Community Centre in Monkton on Wednesday evening (Aug 28) as organiser Charlie Price sought to address growing concern about the upcoming Pembroke Horse Fair, due to take place this Saturday (Aug 30).

The meeting followed a press release issued by Pembrokeshire County Council earlier this week which stated that the event had not been granted formal permission. The announcement was picked up by multiple local media outlets and caused unease among residents living near the proposed site, which lies on council-owned land in Monkton.

Welsh Tik-Toker Sophie Julie Valencia, who has over 100,000 followers has been pushing the event for weeks.

Price, who called the meeting to reassure locals, spoke to around 40 people in attendance. The event began at 7:15pm after a brief delay while attendees waited for a police representative who ultimately did not arrive. Local councillor Jonathan Grimes also did not attend, having previously sent apologies due to a diary clash related to candidate selection for the upcoming Senedd elections.

Addressing this, Price expressed frustration at the councillor’s absence: “He is our councillor and he is paid to represent us,” he said. He then quipped: “I will stand for council and take his seat if he doesn’t help the community.”

Despite the uncertainty around permissions, Price was adamant that the council had been actively assisting with preparations: “Why do you think the council have been here in their trucks, helping us this morning?” he said, gesturing towards the double doors of the community hall. He explained that fencing had been delivered and installed on the site, and that he had held multiple meetings with council representatives in recent weeks.

Police and safety arrangements

Price also addressed policing and public safety, stating that he had met with a high-ranking officer who confirmed that police were aware the event was going ahead and were cooperating. “They’ve said they’re willing to work with us, and we’ve got stewards and marshals in place,” he said. Several of the marshals were present at the meeting.

He further confirmed that there would be no road closures and that access to local roads — including Back Lane — would be maintained throughout. Emergency vehicle access had also been considered, he added.

Parking would be available for a £5 fee, with all proceeds going to charity. The event is covered by public liability insurance through Dezza’s Cabin.

Family-friendly event, not-for-profit

Price was keen to stress that the fair is not a commercial venture: “This isn’t for personal profit — it’s a charity event for the community,” he said. He added that around 100 horses were expected, along with a variety of stalls, children’s activities such as bouncy castles and face painting, and food vendors. “There’ll be no alcohol on site — I want this to be a family event,” he said.

Price said the fair would run from 9:00am to 6:00pm on Saturday, with some people arriving the day before to set up. He gave a personal assurance that the site would be cleared by Sunday: “I need the field back for my horses,” he joked, drawing laughter from those present.

Mayor invited to open the event

At the close of the meeting, Price told the room he had invited the Mayor of Pembroke to open the fair. “He said he would have loved to but he has a family engagement party to attend on the same day,” Price explained.

“We are looking for someone to open the event,” he said.

Community support

Many locals who attended left reassured by the open and direct approach. Price had already been knocking on doors earlier in the week to speak with residents face-to-face and address concerns. The event ended with a round of applause and a sense of cautious optimism that the fair would proceed smoothly.

Price closed the meeting by expressing his hopes for the future: “This isn’t just for the travelling community — it’s for Monkton. Monkton is a strong community where everyone supports each other,” he said. “I want this to be an annual event. I want to see it grow and bring everyone together.”

Council statement

In a statement on Tuesday, Pembrokeshire County Council said: “We are aware of the proposed horse fair to be run on August 30 at Monkton.

“No permission has been granted for this event to take place on Council land.

“We have written to the organiser setting out our concerns and making clear that they must ensure any event is managed safely and responsibly.

“We will monitor the situation closely and work with our partners to minimise disruption to the community.”

It seems now however that the council has conceded the event is going ahead is now doing everything it can to cooperate with the organisers to ensure it is safe and runs smoothly.