Business
Council officers conduct visits in response to Avian Influenza incident

Following the identification of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in poultry at a site near Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire and the declaration of an Influenza Protection Zone and wider Surveillance Zone surrounding the Infected Premises (by the Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales), on Friday 9 September, officers from Pembrokeshire County Council’s Public Protection Division have been engaged in visiting addresses within the 3 kilometre Protection Zone around the site.

Officers are identifying locations where poultry and/or other captive birds are kept and to provide information on restrictions that currently apply to help prevent the spread of disease.
The Council’s officers are working in support of veterinary colleagues from the Animal and Plant Health Agency who are managing a co-ordinated response to the incident, in collaboration with the Welsh Government, Food Standards Agency and Public Health Wales.
A map showing the extent of the zones and restrictions that apply can be seen on the Welsh Government website at https://gov.wales/declaration-avian-influenza-protection-zone-surveillance-zone-near-milford-haven-pembrokeshire, and road signs are currently being erected by the local authority to help clarify where these zones begin and end, which will remain in place until the restrictions can be lifted.
It is vital keepers of birds remain vigilant and ensure they have the very highest levels of biosecurity in place.
Responsibilities of people who keep birds:
- All keepers of kept birds should be vigilant for signs of the disease such as increased mortality, respiratory distress and drops in food or water intake, or egg production.
- Consult your veterinary surgeon in the first instance if your birds are unwell.
- If you or your vet suspect that avian influenza could be causing illness in your birds, you must, by law, report this to the Animal and Plant Health Agency Wales on 0300 303 8268. This will trigger a disease investigation by APHA vets.
- You must apply strict biosecurity measures to prevent any materials, equipment, vehicles, clothing, feed or bedding that could have been contaminated from wild birds coming onto your premises. Further guidance is available here: biosecurity and preventing disease in captive birds.
The UK health agencies advise that the risk to public health from the virus is very low and the UK food standards agencies advise that avian influenza poses a very low food safety risk for UK consumers.
Members of the public who do not keep birds can help by reporting dead wild birds. You should call the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77 if you find:
- One or more dead bird of prey or owl
- Three or more dead gulls or wild waterfowl (swans, geese, ducks)
- Five or more dead birds of any species
These may be collected for examination and avian influenza surveillance, depending on the species and location. It is important not to pick up or touch any sick or dead bird.
Sick or injured wild birds should not be reported to Defra. Instead contact the RSPCA (in Wales and England) on 0300 1234 999 who may be able to offer assistance.
Dead or sick birds in public places, such as beaches, can also reported by calling 01437 764551 (or out of hours 0345 601 5522) for Pembrokeshire County Council to arrange to collect safely.
Business
Refusal expected for farmers’ market on site of deer farm near Tenby

A RESUBMITTED application to create an indoor farmers’ market/traders barn on the site of a deer farm attraction near Tenby is expected to again be refused by county planners.
Mr and Mrs Evans of Great Wedlock, Gumfreston, are seeking a change of use of a former agricultural barn to the trading barn for up to 35 traders selling local produce and crafts, operating up to 61 days a year.
The plans – which will be considered at the October 3 meeting of the county council’s planning committee – also include an additional 30 parking bays on the site of a former silage clamp.

The site, opposite the Great Wedlock Leisure Park dinosaur park, already has planning permission for the change of use of a range of former agricultural barns to create a recently opened deer park attraction with educational and events use.
A previous application for the trading barn was refused by county planners on the basis it would represent an “unjustified use in a countryside location and contains insufficient information in respect of sustainable travel options”.
Another point of concern at that meeting was the lack of a detailed Retail Impact Assessment (RIA), Agent Atriarc Planning has said, which has been incorporated in the resubmitted application.
The resubmitted application says: “The RIA has identified that the proposed development would have no negative impact on the local retail provision and that the proposal would satisfy the RIA tests set out in various National and Local Planning policies.
“The proposed change of use seeks to create a new destination for independent traders, to sell local produce and crafts within the proposed farmers market/ market traders’ barn. The proposal is particularly focussed to local start-up companies (and those in their early infancy) who may not yet be at a scale to occupy a permanent retail premises within Pembrokeshire.
“The stall spaces will provide a range of unit sizes that could be occupied as individual or multiple units. The key driver of the project is to provide a market barn for the sale of high-quality local produce and bespoke goods made in west Wales.”
It is hoped the trading stalls in one part of the barn – if approved – would be open to the public February to December – one day per week Saturday or Sunday outside of school holidays and up to two days per week during the school holidays, from 10am-4pm.
A report for members ahead of the October 3 meeting again recommends refusal, on the basis the application, in a countryside location, would have the potential to have negative impacts upon the existing provision of local shops in nearby rural settlements.
Business
Haverfordwest Pink Cat Shop plans on cards for go-ahead

PLANS to convert a listed former clothes shop in Haverfordwest’s town centre and conservation area to flats and a café is expected to get the go-ahead next week.
Members of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, at their October 3 meeting, are recommended to approve an application by Mr B Roscoe to convert the Grade II-listed Pink Cat Shop, 24 High Street, to six flats and a café.
The application is for committee consideration as it represents a departure from the existing local development plan, but is still recommended for conditional approval.
The building was historically used as a retail store selling clothing; in recent years the basement and ground floors have been used as a café, with the upper floors remaining vacant.
Agent Evans Banks Planning Limited has said the upper floors of the building have been vacant for some five years, and the building was marketed for sale for two years without interest.
A report for planners states: “The submitted application seeks planning permission for the change of use of the building to form six residential flats with a café on part of the ground floor fronting High Street. There would be no external alterations to the principal elevation of the building that is orientated to face High Street. Minor external alterations are proposed to the eastern elevation at basement level in the form of two replacement window openings and a door opening.”
It adds: “The proposal to change the rear part of the ground floor to a residential use and a café (A3 use) to the frontage would ensure a positive effect on the secondary frontage is retained.
“Therefore, despite the conflict [with LDP policy], there are material considerations that carry significant weight in the consideration of this application. These are sufficient to outweigh the identified conflict with policy.”
Business
Welsh Ports Group annual Senedd reception a great success

THE WELSH PORTS GROUP, a sub-committee that discusses and manages all business and developments concerning Welsh Ports, held their annual Senedd reception at the historic Pierhead Building in Cardiff Bay on Wednesday this week, 27th September.
The Ports Group reception saw the gathering of a multitude of representatives from many organisations including various stakeholders, the British Ports Association, and politicians, as they gathered to show their support for the ports industry which contributes so much to our Welsh heritage, culture, and economy.
Commenting on the success of the event, Samuel Kurtz MS said: “Ports have played a unique part in the history of Wales, especially here in Pembrokeshire, so I was delighted to sponsor this year’s Senedd reception for the Welsh Ports Group.
“Whilst the history is impressive, it’s the future of ports which excites the industry and I the most. With opportunities in floating offshore wind and the Celtic Freeport, there really was an air of optimism in the room as we looked forward to the future of the Welsh Ports Industry.
“Ports are hubs for economic activity, and I hope that we can continue to focus the minds of Welsh and UK governments on their importance as we move forwards.”
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