News
Stepaside holiday park expansion expected to be refused
PLANS for a “complex and sprawling” expansion of a south Pembrokeshire holiday park, which has attracted hundreds of objections, are expected to be refused next week.
The application for the works at Heritage Park, Pleasant Valley, is to be considered at the July 25 meeting of the county council’s planning committee.
It includes the installation of 48 bases for holiday lodges, a spa facility, holiday apartments, a café and cycle hire, an equestrian stables, a manège and associated office, main park office, car and cycle parking, residential garages, landscaping, access, retaining walls, foul and surface water drainage, and related infrastructure and engineering works.
The plans, submitted by Heritage Leisure Development (Wales) Ltd, are recommended for refusal including “by reason of the proposed bases for holiday lodges being outside of a settlement and the holiday apartments not being within or well-related to a town, service centre or service village”.
A report for planners says 245 objections have been received, raising concerns including the effect on the character of the village, the effect on wildlife, noise and light pollution, a loss of trees, and spoiling views and reducing the value of property.
Stepaside & Pleasant Valley Residents’ Group – formed to object to an earlier 2019 application – has also raised a 38-page objection, with a long list of concerns, describing the current application as “a reincarnation of an earlier application, which first alerted the residents of Stepaside, Pleasant Valley and the surrounding villages of the applicant’s plans to implement a complex and sprawling development which would take over the whole valley”.
The 2019 application – which had been recommended for refusal – was later withdrawn.
Amroth Community Council has also objected -albeit referring to a previously withdrawn application, as has Kilgetty/Begelly Community Council, with a long list of concerns.
Rural campaign group the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales (CPRW) has also objected, and supported the submission of the Stepaside and Pleasant Valley Residents’ Group.
The application, made through agents Lichfields, says: “The site provides an opportunity to deliver a high-quality tourist offer whilst also preserving and enhancing the ecological and heritage surroundings and is therefore considered to be acceptable in terms of design and access principles.”
The application itself consists of six parts: access roads and retaining walls; 31 bases for holiday lodges and associated works; a holiday equestrian facility with on-site accommodation which includes a manege, reception building, 12 horse stable block, 18 space car park and bases for three holiday lodges; the redevelopment of the former Stepaside Inn into a leisure spa facility and four holiday apartments (in addition to the existing four residential apartments) including an upgraded entrance road; bases for a further 14 holiday accommodation pods; and a holiday lodge structure for a cafe, cycle hire and information point with associated infrastructure and landscaping, as well as a 21-space car park.
Crime
Pembroke Dock motorist banned after driving with cocaine in system
A PEMBROKE DOCK motorist has been banned from the roads after being caught driving with more than seven times the legal cocaine limit in her system.
Naomi Grant, 47, was stopped by police on the night of February 6 as she drove her Vauxhall Astra along the A477 near Pembroke Dock.
After providing a positive roadside drug swipe, Grant, of Cheriton Road, Pennar, Pembroke Dock, was taken for further tests.
Blood analysis showed she had 74mcg of cocaine in her system. The legal limit is 10mcg. She also had 1,200mcg of benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine, where the legal limit is 50mcg.
This week Grant, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to two charges of drug-driving when she appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates.
She was represented by solicitor Tom Lloyd, who told the court that his client is currently prescribed a considerable amount of medication for a number of medical issues.
“She also has her own personal assistant as a result of her medical needs,” he said.
“She has done everything that has been asked of her in relation to this offence and has engaged with the Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service to help her move forward.”
Magistrates disqualified Grant from driving for 12 months and fined her £120.
She must also pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.
Crime
Man warned he faces jail if he breaches court order again
Rhys Wheeler failed to attend unpaid work and probation appointments after being handed a suspended sentence
A HAVERFORDWEST man has been warned he faces prison if he breaches a court order again after failing to attend unpaid work and rehabilitation appointments.
Rhys Wheeler, 24, was convicted in July 2025 of aggravated vehicle taking, causing more than £5,000 worth of damage, and a string of driving offences including drug-driving, driving without a licence and driving without insurance.
He was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete ten rehabilitation activity requirement days and 200 hours of unpaid work.
But this week Haverfordwest magistrates were told that Wheeler, of Penycwm, Haverfordwest, had breached the order for a second time.
Probation officer Julie Norman said Wheeler had failed to attend unpaid work and had also stopped engaging with probation.
“It’s disappointing that he’s here for a second time,” she told the court.
“He appeared before this court in February for an identical breach. The last time he attended his probation appointments was on May 6. Since then, he’s completely disengaged.”
Wheeler admitted failing to comply with the order and was represented in court by solicitor Tom Lloyd.
“The defendant has done a fair chunk of the hours, and he’s motivated to complete them,” said Mr Lloyd.
“He’s nearly there, so it would be a real disaster if he was sent to prison after getting as far as this.”
Magistrates ordered Wheeler to complete an additional ten hours of unpaid work, leaving him with 79 hours still to complete. His order was also extended until January 2027.
He must pay £60 prosecution costs.
“Any further breaches will leave the court with no option but to send you to prison,” the presiding magistrate told him.
Crime
Pembrokeshire dairy farmer banned after drink-drive offence
Lucy Pope told police she had drunk alcohol earlier that evening after officers stopped her car in Haverfordwest.
A YOUNG Pembrokeshire dairy farmer has been banned from the road after being caught driving while over the drink-drive limit.
Lucy Pope, 22, pleaded guilty to the offence when she appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates this week.
The court heard that Pope was arrested in the early hours of March 7 after police stopped her Volkswagen T-Roc in Dew Street, Haverfordwest.
“At around 1.30am, police received a call from a member of the public who suspected the defendant may have been driving after consuming alcohol,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told the court.
“Her car was located and, when officers spoke to Lucy Pope, she confirmed she had consumed alcohol at around 9pm that evening.”
A subsequent blood test showed Pope had 103 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80.
Pope, of Fronhaul, Hermon, Glogue, was represented by solicitor Aled Owen, who said the offence was “very much at odds” with her character.
“This is a woman who is very much part of the community,” he said.
“She works as a dairy farmer and also keeps her own heifers. She had spent the day watching a Six Nations rugby international with friends.
“She believed she had eaten enough during the day and thought she was under the limit. But this was a miscalculation which has been devastating.”
Magistrates disqualified Pope from driving for 12 months and fined her £115. She was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £46 surcharge.
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