Local Government

High Court strikes down Moylgrove adventure hub approval

Published

3 months ago

September 5, 2025

Pupping grey seals need protecting – Planning Court rules National Park decision unlawful in landmark ruling

THE HIGH COURT has quashed planning permission for an outdoor adventure centre at Moylgrove, declaring the decision of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority unlawful because of environmental concerns.

The case was heard in June by the Planning Court of the High Court, sitting at Haverfordwest. On Friday (Sept 5), Mr Justice Eyre delivered his written judgment in the case brought by the conservation group Wild Justice, supported by local residents. The ruling overturns the Authority’s October 2024 decision to allow development of an adventure hub at the Old Bus Depot, Moylgrove, with planned coasteering, kayaking and other activities at nearby Ceibwr Bay.

***Campaigners from Wild Justice at Haverfordwest Court back in June (Image: WJ)***

Protected wildlife site

Ceibwr Bay is one of Pembrokeshire’s most sensitive coastal locations. It forms part of the Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC), the Pembrokeshire Marine SAC, and the West Wales Marine SAC, and is also designated as the Aberarth–Carreg Wylan Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The bay is home to pupping grey seals, otters, razorbills, guillemots, fulmars, choughs and kestrels. Campaigners argued that increased recreational use risked disturbing these protected species and damaging fragile habitats.

Wild Justice claimed the planning process was procedurally flawed, that key environmental information was missing, and that mitigation measures such as an Access Management Plan were inadequate. The group also said the Authority unlawfully sought to balance the educational and tourism benefits of the scheme against the risks to wildlife, when the law requires strict protection.

The judgment

***Ruling was handed down today: Mr Justice Eyre***

In his ruling, Mr Justice Eyre accepted that the planning permission had not been lawfully granted. The judgment means the permission is quashed and the development cannot go ahead unless a fresh application is submitted and properly assessed.

Wild Justice welcomed the verdict, saying: “This is a victory for local people who have been raising the alarm for more than a decade, and a vital win for wildlife in one of the most important conservation sites in Wales.”

Wider implications

The case is being seen as nationally significant because it clarifies how planning authorities must approach developments in areas protected by the Habitats Regulations. The ruling underlines that Special Areas of Conservation and SSSIs cannot be treated as ordinary countryside and that planning bodies must base their decisions on complete information and legally sound assessments.

Legal commentators have suggested the decision could affect other adventure tourism proposals across the UK, particularly where activities risk disturbing sensitive marine or coastal wildlife. Local authorities may now be under pressure to demonstrate far stricter safeguards before approving such schemes.

***Key environmental information was missing was planning permission was approved, it was found***

Reaction and next steps

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority has not yet confirmed whether it will appeal the decision. If no appeal is lodged, the developer will need to make a fresh planning application, supported by stronger environmental evidence, if it wishes to pursue the project.

For the community in Moylgrove, the ruling has been greeted as a major relief. Campaigners say it vindicates their long struggle to ensure that conservation law is applied properly in Pembrokeshire.

The case has also boosted Wild Justice’s profile as one of the UK’s leading conservation litigants, with the group promising to continue holding public bodies to account where it believes wildlife protection has been undermined.

A spokesperson for Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority said it acknowledged the judgement.

“The court found against the national park authority on two procedural grounds, three grounds were dismissed. Judicial Review challenges do not consider the merits of a planning decision itself, but rather the process by which a decision was reached.

They added the park “respected” the decision and would “carefully review the judgement in detail before determining any further actions that are required”.

National precedent: what this ruling means

Habitats Regulations clarified: The judgment confirms that planning authorities must not rely on vague assurances or incomplete mitigation when considering projects in SACs and SSSIs.
Balancing not allowed: Educational or tourism benefits cannot be weighed against ecological harm when European-protected sites are at stake — the law requires strict ecological protection.
Ripple effect across the UK: Councils, park authorities and developers nationwide may now face legal challenges if they approve projects near sensitive habitats without watertight environmental assessments.
Wildlife watchdogs emboldened: Groups like Wild Justice are likely to use this ruling as a springboard for further cases, reinforcing judicial review as a powerful tool to defend nature.

Local Government

Call for Return of Salt Tip in North Pembrokeshire to Improve Winter Road Safety

Published

7 hours ago

December 13, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A PROPOSAL for the reinstatement of a salt tip in North Pembrokeshire to improve road safety during snowy and icy conditions has been put forward by local councillor Huw Murphy.

At the December meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, Cllr Murphy called for a review of the council’s current weather strategy, highlighting the need for an auxiliary salt tip in the north of the county. His motion, which was supported by senior councillors, aims to address the challenges faced by motorists during severe winter weather.

Cllr Murphy’s motion emphasized the importance of having a reserve salt tip available to ensure primary routes remain clear and accessible during snow and ice conditions. This would allow emergency services to respond to calls, key workers to reach their workplaces, and essential vehicles like HGVs to access farms for activities such as milk collection.

Historically, a salt tip was located near Crymych, which proved invaluable for gritting roads, particularly the A478 between Crymych and Cardigan, and between Crymych and Clunderwen. These roads, often treacherous during snowy weather, have caused difficulties for HGVs, coaches, and school buses in the past.

The proposal stresses that a new salt tip in Pembrokeshire would allow for quicker and more regular gritting, making roads safer for all users, especially during the harshest winter conditions. Cllr Murphy also highlighted that recent heavy snowfall exposed weaknesses in the current gritting strategy, particularly in the northeast of Pembrokeshire and the Preseli Mountains, which are most prone to severe weather.

The motion also called for prompt gritting and the deployment of snow ploughs on key routes, including the A478, A487, B4332, and B4329, which are vital for the local communities in the northeast and Preseli areas.

The county council’s Cabinet will now consider Cllr Murphy’s motion for further review.

Local Government

Carmarthenshire welcomes new council leader

Published

2 days ago

December 12, 2025

Tom Sinclair

New Cabinet confirmed following Full Council meeting

COUNCILLOR Linda Evans has been appointed Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council and Chair of the Cabinet following a meeting of Full Council on Wednesday (Dec 10).

A long-serving Plaid Cymru councillor for the Llanfihangel-ar-Arth ward, Cllr Evans has served on the authority since 2008 and has been a Cabinet Member since 2015.

Her appointment was formally confirmed during the meeting, where she also announced her Cabinet team — a 10-member executive responsible for the council’s overall business. The Cabinet meets fortnightly to make key decisions and recommendations to Full Council and, in some cases, decisions can be taken individually by Cabinet Members.

All members of the previous administration have retained their roles, with one change: Cllr Emlyn Schiavone joins the Cabinet as the new Cabinet Member for Homes.

The full Cabinet is as follows:

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Leisure, Culture and Tourism: Cllr Hazel Evans
Cabinet Member for Education: Cllr Glynog Davies
Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs, Communities and Welsh Language: Cllr Carys Jones
Cabinet Member for Organisation and Workforce: Cllr Philip Hughes
Cabinet Member for Resources: Cllr Alun Lenny
Cabinet Member for Homes: Cllr Emlyn Schiavone
Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste and Infrastructure Services: Cllr Edward Thomas
Cabinet Member for Integrated Health and Children and Adult Social Services: Cllr Jane Tremlett
Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability: Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen
Leader of the Council: Cllr Linda Evans

Speaking after her appointment, Cllr Evans said:
“It’s an honour to be elected as Council Leader and I look forward to working with the Cabinet and all members across the chamber for the benefit of the residents of Carmarthenshire.”

Climate

Urgent calls for action on Pembroke Commons flooding

Published

2 days ago

December 11, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

TWO PEMBROKESHIRE councillors have submitted an urgent call for action following recent heavy flooding in parts of Pembroke.

Pembroke councillors Aaron Carey and Jonathan Grimes have submitted an urgent notice of motion ahead of tomorrow’s December 12 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council following heavy flooding in the town’s Commons and Castle Pond area.

The notice of motion covers six points.

“That this council notes with concern the repeated and increasingly severe flooding experienced in our coastal, estuarial and river-fringe communities over recent weeks — in particular the flooding events affecting the Commons/Castle Pond area.

“That the council further notes that, according to correspondence from the Coastal, Rivers & Drainage Team Manager, the tipping gate at the barrage remains out of operation until mid-January due to mechanical issues; meanwhile high tide, heavy rain, wind-driven tidal surges and overspill at the sluice have combined to overwhelm the drainage/outfall infrastructure.

“That we recognise the current maintenance schedule (delayed till after the summer season) and the justification given — but further that such planning failed to foresee the likelihood of severe winter storm and surge events, which climate change makes more frequent and more intense.

“That this council therefore calls on the Cabinet to commission an urgent review of:

The adequacy of the current drainage/outfall and tidal-sluice infrastructure (barrage tipping gate, sluice/sluice-valve, flap valve, outfall capacity) for current and projected climate/tide conditions.
The maintenance scheduling policy for coastal and estuarial flood-risk assets, with a view to ensuring critical maintenance is completed before winter high-tide / storm-surge season, rather than — as at present — being delayed until after summer for ‘recreational / biodiversity’ reasons.

“That, pending the outcome of the review, the council should allocate appropriate emergency capital funding to remediate the barrages / sluices / outfalls at risk of failure or blockage — to safeguard residents, properties, highways and public amenities from further flooding.

“That, further, this council resolves to publish a public flood-resilience plan for the county, identifying all coastal and river-fringe ‘hotspots,’ maintenance schedules, responsible teams, and a transparent timeline for upgrades or remedial works — so residents have clarity and confidence in flood prevention measures.”

The submission also includes a question for Cabinet Member Cllr Rhys Sinnett.

“In light of the repeated flooding events across the county – including the recent overflow at Castle Pond and the acknowledgement by your own Coastal, Rivers & Drainage Team that the barrage tipping gate remains inoperable until mid-January can you explain what assessment has been made of the adequacy of our tidal outfall infrastructure in the face of current and projected future storm surges and sea-level rise?

“If no such assessment has yet been undertaken, will you commit now to commissioning an immediate structural and risk-capacity audit, with a report to full council within three months, and with proposals for funding any remedial works required — to avoid recurring damage and disruption to residents, highways, and public amenities?”

A Pembrokeshire County Council spokesman has confirmed the 11th hour call will be heard by full council tomorrow.

Image: Martin Cavaney