A PEMBROKESHIRE hotel that has been used as accommodation for migrant agricultural workers since March, may continue despite concerns about antisocial behaviour.

A retrospective ‘application’ submitted last month by Recruitment service Pro-Force Ltd and Pembrokeshire agricultural business Puffin Produce Ltd informed county planners the Nant Y Ffin Hotel, Llandissilio is being used to house up to 67 seasonal workers.

The hotel has been used for accommodation for seasonal migrant workers since March, with up to 48 there at any one time.

Agent Geraint John Planning Ltd, in a statement submitted to county planners, felt there is no need for an actual planning application as the accommodation for workers at the hotel did not represent a change of use of the building.

It said no physical changes have been made to the hotel for its new role, and that “only when works are to be undertaken to the building, to support its function, will full planning permission be sought for the change of use brought about by such works”.

It added: “The application is accordingly made purely in the interest of transparency, to confirm the exact present use and function of the hotel, which is to provide accommodation for seasonal workers.”

Recruitment service Pro-Force runs a ‘Seasonal Workers Scheme’ that has been running for three years, managed by the Home Office under the T5 (temporary worker) seasonal worker category of the immigration system.

Geraint John Planning Ltd said workers are transported throughout the county to work at Puffin Produce facilities, carrying out farming and field-based work in the horticulture and dairy sectors at local farms and business within a 40-mile radius of the site.

“Puffin Produce is an expanding business, and thus its employee requirement is increasing year on year to fulfil the needs of the business. Some field-based roles are proving impossible to fill with workers from the local region, and as such, Puffin require seasonal workers from the European market to fulfil the employment requirements commensurate with the existing and ever-increasing capacity of the business.”

Concerns have been raised by neighbouring community councils Llandissilio and Clunderwen about antisocial behaviour, with workers congregating outside of the building and within the nearby chapel grounds; as well as a loss of value to local properties, increased pedestrian footfall and road safety issues/street lighting, and how workers will be integrated into the community.

A report by council planning officers said: “In considering the impact of potential anti-social behaviour and increased noise, the applicant has submitted details of its expectations of occupants’ behaviour and a complaints process to deal with any concerns within the locality.”

The application was approved with conditions – including complaints procedure – by planning officers under delegated powers.

QATAR AIRWAYS is gearing up to reintroduce its Cardiff to Doha route, with an anticipated launch on 18th December 2023, The Herald understands. The news followins a crucial meeting in Doha this summer between the airline’s Group Chief Executive, His Excellency, Akbar Al Baker, and Vale of Glamorgan MP, Alun Cairns, which focused on the airline’s future plans, including their Cardiff comeback.

The route’s suspension, initially due to the pandemic in 2020, was prolonged by a dispute with Airbus. This conflict led to the grounding of around 20 of its Airbus A350 wide-bodied aircraft. This shortage had implications three years down the line, leaving the Cardiff-Doha route in limbo. However, Mr. Al Baker has reassured that with the reintroduction of the A350s, aircraft will be available for destinations including Cardiff.

The proposed flights are scheduled to depart from Cardiff on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday at 14:15. While these four weekly flights are less frequent than the daily service pre-pandemic, they seem more apt considering the challenge of filling a Boeing 787.

Such a return could be the lifeline Cardiff Airport direly needs. The airport has suffered multiple setbacks recently, most notably the exit of low-cost carrier Wizz Air in January 2023. Wizz Air, after launching nine routes for the 2022 summer season, decided to pull its base operation following the winter.

Cardiff Airport’s woes are not recent. Purchased by the Welsh Government in 2013 for £52m, its value depreciated to just £15m last year. Despite financial interventions, including writing off a £42.6m debt and pumping in £158m, recovery has been elusive. In 2020, the airport experienced a 93% decline in passenger numbers, plummeting from 1,656,085 in 2019 to a mere 219,984.

Comparing figures up to October 2022, Cardiff’s 811,000 passengers are starkly contrasted by numbers from other UK airports: Bristol’s 7.5m, Gatwick’s 30m, and Heathrow’s astounding 56m.

Yet, there is hope. When Qatar Airways initially launched their daily service in May 2018, they bridged Wales directly to the Middle East. The first year saw over 82,000 passengers, many of whom used Doha’s status as a hub for further travel. By March 2020, annual passenger figures had climbed to 92,000.

Commenting on the significance of the route, Alun Cairns said, “I was delighted to meet with His Excellency, Akbar Al Baker in Doha. The airline is paramount to the Welsh economy, and its return is eagerly awaited. Having discussed a daily flight back in 2017, I’ve seen the dedication of Qatar Airways to Cardiff. Their return will undoubtedly provide a much-needed boost.”

Today, Cardiff Airport’s schedule paints a grim picture with only 17 flights listed. The urgency for the return of Qatar Airways, especially in light of such statistics, cannot be overstated. The return of this key connection between Wales and the Middle East might be the shot in the arm that Cardiff Airport needs.

OFFSHORE RENEWABLE ENERGY (ORE) Catapult, in association with Floventis Energy, is set to boost the floating offshore wind sector in Wales. The partnership aims to prepare Welsh businesses for this rapidly growing industry.

This initiative, termed the Fit 4 Offshore Renewables (F4OR) programme, is tailored exclusively to propel the floating wind market in Wales. It marks the debut of such an initiative in the region, reflecting the nation’s progressive stance on renewable energy.

The joint venture sees a promising £180,000 committed by Floventis Energy towards the 12-18 month floating wind specific development scheme. Welsh businesses are set to benefit extensively with unique access to the team developing Llŷr 1 and 2 in the Celtic Sea. This, in combination with the forthcoming Celtic Sea Round 5 projects, promises lucrative prospects for local ventures.

Vaughan Gething, Wales’ Economy Minister, expressed his enthusiasm: “The offshore wind sector has an incredible potential for our economy and its people. By bolstering the awareness of Welsh firms, we aim to pave the way for them to harness the opportunities of the green future.”

The programme, commencing in 2024, will kick-start with an initial group of three companies. Since its inception in 2019, the F4OR initiative has flourished across the UK, boasting five successful regional programmes and aiding over 100 companies. Many of these beneficiaries have seen a significant surge in their turnovers.

Andrew Macdonald from ORE Catapult commented on the potential of the sector: “Our goal is to ensure a top-tier supply chain developed in the UK, ready to cater to the world. With the proven success of F4OR in other parts, we’re eager to tap into the vast opportunities that Wales, particularly in floating wind energy, presents.”

The Celtic Sea in Wales is poised to be a frontrunner in the UK’s net-zero ambition, targeting a deployment of 4GW of floating wind by 2035. Early estimates suggest the potential creation of over 3,000 jobs, injecting a staggering £682 million into the supply chain of Wales and Cornwall by 2030.

Cian Conroy of Floventis Energy, noting the importance of the programme, stated: “Initiatives like F4OR, in tandem with projects such as Llŷr, are vital for building a robust industry. Our end goal is to fortify the UK’s offshore renewable energy supply chain, both domestically and on the global stage.”

Applications for the programme are open for firms employing over ten individuals and boasting turnovers exceeding £1 million, provided they cater to the offshore wind sector. Interested companies can apply at F4OR – ORE (catapult.org.uk) by 10 November.