Local Government

High Court strikes down Moylgrove adventure hub approval

Published

5 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

Have your say on future of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

Published

20 hours ago

January 27, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Residents invited to help shape Local Development Plan 3 as early consultation opens

RESIDENTS, community groups and organisations are being invited to help shape the future of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park as part of an early-stage public consultation on its next Local Development Plan.

The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority has opened consultation on a series of key documents that will inform Local Development Plan 3 (LDP3), which will guide how the National Park develops over the coming years.

The consultation opened on Monday (Jan 26) and will run until 5:00pm on Monday, March 23.

Local Development Plan 3 will influence planning decisions across the National Park, including issues relating to housing, sustainability, communities, the natural environment and climate change. At this early stage, the Authority is seeking views on the main issues the Plan should address, helping to shape its direction from the outset.

The documents open for consultation are the Sustainability Appraisal incorporating the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Scoping Report, which includes background information on relevant plans, policies and environmental baselines; a Draft Issues, Vision and Objectives Paper setting out key challenges and a potential long-term vision for the National Park; and the Local Development Plan 2 Annual Monitoring Report covering April 2024 to March 2025.

An online engagement event will be held on Monday, February 9, from 7:00pm to 8:30pm, providing an opportunity for participants to learn more about the documents and ask questions. The event will take place via Microsoft Teams.

Anyone wishing to attend must register by emailing [email protected]
. Welsh-language translation can be provided on request if the Authority is notified by Monday, February 2.

All consultation documents will be available on the National Park Authority’s website. They can also be accessed on public computers in libraries, with paper copies available at a charge.

Comments can be submitted online via the consultation questionnaire, by email, or in writing to the Strategic Policy Team at the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority. All responses will be acknowledged and made public, and feedback will be considered as the Authority prepares the next stages of Local Development Plan 3.

Further information is available by contacting [email protected]
or calling 01646 624800.

Local Government

Tribunal over former Neyland councillor’s conduct adjourned

Published

2 days ago

January 26, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Adjudication Panel for Wales reschedules case-paper hearing for February 12

A TRIBUNAL hearing into alleged breaches of the members’ code of conduct by a former Neyland town councillor has been adjourned and rescheduled, official papers confirm.

The case involving former Councillor Brian Rothero had been listed to be determined on Tuesday (Jan 27) at 10:00am, using remote attendance technology.

However, the tribunal meeting has now been adjourned at the request of the tribunal panel, with the case due to be determined instead on Thursday, February 12, at 10:00am, according to a notification issued by the Adjudication Panel for Wales’ Welsh Tribunals Unit at the eleventh hour (Jan 26).

The matter relates to allegations of breaches of the statutory members’ code of conduct. These include alleged failures to show respect and consideration, and requirements around treating others with respect and not using bullying or harassing behaviour.

The tribunal will determine the case on the papers only and will not hear oral submissions or evidence from the parties or any witnesses. The notification states that Mr Rothero’s presence on the rescheduled date is not required.

It also confirms the tribunal’s meeting, deliberations and adjudication will not be open to the public.

Neyland council context

The adjournment comes amid an extended period of heightened scrutiny around Neyland Town Council, which has repeatedly featured in complaints and conduct-related disputes.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Standards Committee has previously been told that Neyland Town Council accounted for a significant proportion of code of conduct complaints made about town and community councils in the county.

In a separate recent case, a Neyland councillor was banned from public office for four years after a tribunal found breaches linked to communications described as lacking respect and amounting to bullying or harassment.

The council has also faced ongoing rows over governance and decision-making, including controversy surrounding a co-option process that drew criticism over transparency.

Local Government

West Wales taxpayers to pay more to fund police this year

Published

2 days ago

January 26, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

THE POLICE part of the council tax bill in Dyfed and Powys is to rise by nearly 7.5 per cent, following a near nine per cent last year, meaning the average household will be paying £390 this coming year for that element alone.

The overall council tax bill for residents in the counties of Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Powys is made up of the county council element of the council tax, the Dyfed-Powys Police precept, and individual town or community council precepts.

At the January 23 meeting of the Dyfed Powys Police and Crime Panel, held at County Hall, Haverfordwest, Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn called for a raising of the precept by 7.474 per cent for the 2026-’27 financial year, a rise of £26.95 for the average Band D property, bring that element up to £387.63 for an average band D property in 2024-’25.

Any property paying a premium of council tax, such as second homes, also pays that premium on the police precept as well, meaning their bills for this element are proportionately higher.

Of the force’s funding, 56 per cent, or some £93m, comes from the precept.

Last year saw an 8.6 per cent increase on the force’s precept.

Speaking at the meeting, Pembroke county councillor Cllr Jonathan Grimes asked: “what can council tax-payers expect to see in terms of their council tax payments, what will they see in terms of value for money?”

Mr Llywelyn said it would support efficiencies helping a “more visible and accessible police service”.

Members backed the recommendation of a 7.47 per cent increase.

This year’s near-eight per cent increase follows a public consultation.

Local authorities are due to decide their council tax levels in the next few months.

Ceredigion is currently mooting a 4.75 per cent increase in that element of the overall council tax bill.