BIRD keepers in Wales are being urged to remain vigilant after the all-Wales Avian Influenza Prevention Zone was lifted today.

Mandatory biosecurity measures for poultry and other captive birds were introduced in January 2025 to help prevent the spread of avian influenza from wild birds and other sources.

The Welsh Government said the decision to lift the remaining measures follows the latest outbreak assessment, which reduced the risk of bird flu transmission from wild birds to kept birds in Great Britain from “medium” to “low”.

Mandatory housing measures had already been removed in April. The lifting of the Welsh zone has been coordinated with similar moves in England and Scotland.

Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales Richard Irvine said: “I am pleased the latest reduction in avian influenza risk means we are now able to lift the all-Wales Avian Influenza Prevention Zone.

“This is good news for our bird keepers, and I would like to thank the sector, who have worked hard and shown great vigilance through a sustained and challenging period.

“I also want to be very clear that low risk does not mean no risk.

“Avian influenza remains a serious disease, and we know that conditions can change. I urge every bird keeper, no matter the size or type of flock, to keep protecting their birds – from bird flu and other diseases.

“Good hygiene practices are your first and most effective line of defence. Vigilance and prompt reporting of any suspicion of disease also remain absolutely vital.”

Bird keepers are being reminded to continue good hygiene and biosecurity practices, including keeping bird areas clean and tidy, controlling access to birds and housing, minimising contact between kept birds and wild birds, regularly disinfecting equipment, clothing and footwear, and reporting signs of disease promptly to the Animal and Plant Health Agency.

The Welsh Government said it would continue to monitor the bird flu situation closely. Further guidance, including biosecurity self-assessment checklists for small flocks, commercial poultry keepers and game bird keepers, is available on the Welsh Government website.

A CALL for a time extension for plans for housing on the site of a former “blot on the national park” seaside turkey farm has been given the go-ahead.

In an application recommended for delegated approval to senior officers at the June meeting of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee, Mark Chapman, through agent Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd sought permission for a further three years’ time extension for a previously-granted scheme to build four homes at the former turkey farm, on land off Blockett Lane, Little Haven.

The application was before the committee as it was recommended for approval despite the local community council, The Havens, objecting to the scheme, and it being a departure from the local development plan.

The Havens had objected to the scheme on the same grounds it objected to the original 2021 application for four dwellings granted in 2022, saying there was a poor access road, very narrow, with no pavement leading to the village for pedestrian use.

An officer report recommending approval said: “The application site comprises a parcel of brownfield land which historically formed part of a turkey farm complex located to the south of Little Haven. The wider site has been subject to extensive residential redevelopment, with several dwellings completed and others under construction on adjacent land. The site is also subject of a current enforcement notice relating to storage of shipping containers.

“The applicant has advised that development has been delayed due to an ongoing civil dispute relating to access rights, which has prevented commencement within the original timeframe but which the applicant believes to be resolvable.

“As the application is in outline form and seeks only a time extension, there are no changes to the scale, layout, or form of development for assessment at this stage with only indicative plans having been received.”

Speaking at the meeting, agent Andrew Vaughan-Harries of Hayston reiterated it was hoped the civil matter could be addressed to “deliver this important development”.

He added: “The old turkey farm and sheds were a real blot on the national park, on a sensitive spot on the clifftop, a real eyesore.”

He said developments on-site so far had seem them cleared, with the “sensitive development” expected to net up to £90,000 in affordable housing contributions to the authority.

On the community council access concerns, he said: “Perhaps they are newer members who don’t remember a busy turkey farm and its traffic; at the end of the day Little Haven is a pretty little village with narrow roads on all sides.”

Committee chair Cllr Simon Hancock, said committee-viewed aerial pictures of the turkey farm site were “stark” in comparison with its now-cleared state, moving approval, which included some 16 conditions.

Members backed the recommendation of approval.

A CALL to keep a holiday pod sited on a Pembrokeshire farm, as part of a wider holiday pod farm diversification over two areas which saw the larger part supported, has been approved by county planners.

In an application given delegated approval at the June meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, Bill Ridge of Vaynor Farm Ltd, Bethesda, through agent Gerald Blain Associates Limited, sought retrospective permission to keep a self-catering pod at Broomley Farm, Sodston, Narberth, works having been completed in 2022.

The application is part of a wider scheme of holiday pods diversification encompassing two farms.

Back in December 2025, Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee granted delegated retrospective permission to Vaynor Farm Ltd for the siting of two self-catering holiday accommodation pods at The Cart House, Vaynor Farm, Bethesda, near Narberth as part of a farm diversification enterprise.

A supporting statement accompanying the latest application said: “Vaynor farm is a 400-acre working dairy farm with a herd of 700 milking cows. The enterprise comprises of three self-catering pods. Two of the pods are situated at the Vaynor homestead and another at the opposite end of the holding at Broomley farm.

“The first unit was sited adjacent to Vaynor farm stead some four years ago and a further two added in subsequent years. The units have enjoyed successful occupancy rates over several years offering a unique secluded tourism offer on a working dairy farm, more detail of which is outlined within the supporting business plan.”

It said the Broomley farm application before committee was a resubmission of a previously refused scheme, adding: “It should be noted that this application was originally part of [the application] which was recommended approval at planning committee in December 2025. This element however was separated due to its location on another part of Vaynor farm deeming it not possible to be considered under the same application.”

At the December meeting, an officer report said: “A business plan has been submitted with [that] application, which explains that due to uncertainties associated with dairy farming, the applicant has sought to diversify the farm enterprise to incorporate tourism accommodation.”

An officer report accompanying the latest application for members said: “The development of the accommodation pod has led to positive economic and social impacts, evidence has clearly demonstrated how income from the accommodation pods is used to support the overall combined Broomley Farm and Vaynor Farm enterprise.

“The proposed location of the accommodation pod is not considered to have led to an unacceptable impact on the character and appearance of the area given their siting adjacent to the Broomley Farm farmstead complex.”

Members backed the head of planning being given delegated powers to approve the scheme subject to a Section 106 legal agreement and conditions including the pod be limited to short-term holiday use only.