A CALL to allow eight workers’ caravans sited without planning permission at Wales’ largest wholesale suppliers of potatoes and seasonal vegetables producers to remain has been approved by Pembrokeshire planners.

In a Certificate of lawful development application before Pembrokeshire County Council, Puffin Produce Ltd sought to retain the eight static staff accommodation caravans at its headquarters on Withybush Road, Haverfordwest; the caravans having been in place for at least a decade.

An application for a certificate of lawful development allows an applicant to keep a development if they can provide proof of occupancy or use over a prolonged period.

A supporting statement through agent Evans Banks Planning Limited said Puffin Produce Ltd “has been in business since the 1970s and is now the largest supplier of Welsh produce in Wales, supplying a wide variety of potatoes and seasonal vegetables to multiple major retailers and wholesalers”.

It added: “During this time, the business has often relied upon the use of employment agencies and overseas workers, with many of these being accommodated in the static caravans at the headquarters site. Therefore, the use of the on-site residential accommodation in the form of the eight static caravans has been critical in the success of the business, both over the last 10 years and moving forward into the future.”

Evidence provided by the applicants, including sworn affidavits by those responsible for maintenance, electrical testing, human resources, and a former occupant, stated the caravans had been on-site for more than 10 years; the applicant seeking “to regularise the situation”.

It added: “Post-Brexit the company has moved towards ‘Proforce’ agency and ‘RE Recruitment’, with all agency staff recruited on fixed term contracts with their right to work varying between seasonal workers or settle/pre-settled status, with on-site accommodation then provided.”

It finished by saying four of the caravans had been on-site back in 2013, with the remainder added to over time up to January 2015, confirming “that there have been eight static caravans present on site for an uninterrupted period of over 10 years”.

The certificate of lawful development was approved by county planning officers.

PLANS to turn a former school building to a motorcycle showroom have been submitted to Pembrokeshire County Council.

An application by Noel Davies of Merlin Autos Wales Ltd seeks to change the use of the former Castle School Building, Snowdrop Lane, Haverfordwest to the showroom, which also includes an ancillary on-site café.

The site is currently vacant, having previously been used for cookery and teaching provision for the former independent Castle School, the use finishing last year; prior to that it was occupied by RAOB Lodge/Snowdrop Bar.

A supporting statement through agent Ian Bartlett Planning and Architectural Services says: “The submitted scheme is required to relocate to sustain the viability of the existing business operation Merlin Motorcycles currently located in the Prendergast area of Haverfordwest.

“Merlin Motorcycles, a subsidiary of Merlin Auto Services, was established in March 2016 to cater to the local motorcycle community in Pembrokeshire. Merlin Motorcycles operates from a former car showroom in Prendergast, Haverfordwest, with a floor area of only 122 square metres.

“Since its inception, the company has experienced steady growth and has outgrown its current premises. Recently, the installation of double yellow lines on the highway outside the Prendergast site has posed challenges in terms of parking and customer accessibility. The lack of space in the current location, limits the amount of stock that can be displayed and stored on site.”

It adds: “Merlin Motorcycles has diligently searched for suitable premises within Haverfordwest but to date has been unsuccessful. Given the nature of motorcycle sales, the enterprise requires a level vehicular double-door access that is not readily available to any existing vacant retail premises in Haverfordwest.

“It is expected that the relocation of the business to a larger premises would facilitate the requirement for an increase in staff members to meet the demands of the business and to provide high levels of customer service.

“The site also provides the opportunity to offer an ancillary on-site café serving hot and cold beverages, cakes and light lunches. It is not proposed to offer hot food, and the café would not operate independently from the retail sales aspect of the enterprise, providing a service primarily to customers visiting for motorcycle sales.

“As motorcycle lifestyle brands increasingly leverage their physical retail spaces to incorporate in-store cafes, this move aligns with the evolving trends in the industry and offers opportunities for community engagement.”

The proposal will be considered by county planners at a later date.

PLANS to site public use storage containers close to a Pembrokeshire village’s railway station have been approved county planners.

The application by S Fussell, through agent Gethin Beynon, seeks permission to site the 27 containers – initially 25 – on an existing storage yard by Clunderwen railway station.

A supporting statement accompanying the application says: “The application seeks permission to site [the containers] to serve as a storage facility for a public use. The application site is located immediately to the north of the Clunderwen railway line and forms an existing storage and laydown yard.”

It adds: “The containers would all be accessed and open from the north elevation. The container frontage would be fenced off via post and rail fencing for security purposes with parking for 9 vehicles being provided. A turning head to the northwest of the site would be provided to provide accessibility to and from the storage compound. In terms of material finishes the containers would be of a conventional rectangular form and be constructed from steel.”

It says the proposal would “have a positive economic and social impact through employment construction via the development,” with minimal environmental impacts, based on the containers being sited in an existing storage and distribution yard, adding: “In terms of the proposal’s scale design and character, the modular form of the containers being adjacent to the railway line are in keeping with the immediate semi-industrial character of the area.”

A Pembrokeshire County Council officer report recommending approval said: “Plans were amended during the course of the application, due to comments raised by Dwr Cymru. The proposed storage containers have moved position to allow for a three-metre zone around two foul chambers which run through the development site.

“The proposal has increased to 27 storage containers, from 25. 15 containers will be 15ft by 8ft in size and 12 storage containers will be 20ft by 8ft in size. A secondary entrance has been proposed to the north-east.”

The application was approved with a long string of conditions.