A PEMBROKESHIRE farm barn attraction, which gained a 3,500-strong petition of support to keep it running after previously being refused by planning officers, is now recommended to be turned down by councillors next week.

Late last year, Stuart Williams of Home Farm, Leweston, near Camrose, was refused retrospective permission by planning officers to retain the Willhome Farm Barn farm park – and ancillary buildings – built in June 2022.

The site – whose facilities were used by the council’s own educational providers and parents of children with learning difficulties – is home to rabbits, llamas, donkeys, poultry, owls, goats, ponies and pigs, along with a café building, public conveniences, a children’s play area, and parking.

It was refused due to highway safety concerns and fears it would generate additional foul water flows which are likely to result in an increase in phosphate levels in the Cleddau River.

Since the refusal by planners, a change.org petition, Grant Planning Permission for Willhome Farm Barn in Pembrokeshire, was set up by Hook-based Jessica Austin, which has attracted more than 3,500 signatures to date.

Jessica’s petition said: “This decision not only affects this resilient family but also impacts schools attended with over 6,000 pupils, by adults from local wellbeing centres and families with children who have autism or learning difficulties like mine.

“It’s important to note that there are no apparent issues with existing amenities. Roads or waterways. The refusal of planning permission seems unjustified and is causing unnecessary distress within our community.”

Earlier this year, the applicant submitted a fresh call – supported by local community council Camrose – for permission to be granted, which was again due to be decided by planning officers.

At the request of local county councillor, and former council leader, Cllr Jamie Adams, a special meeting was held in July to discuss whether a decision could be made by councillors rather than officers, which was unanimously supported.

The application was due to be heard at the October meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, with a recommendation of refusal, reasons including those given for the previous application.

At the start of the October meeting, members heard the scheme had been temporarily withdrawn to allow the applicant’s agent more time to address concerns, with the plans now returning to the December 3 planning committee.

The application is recommended to be refused on the basis officers say it is in an unsustainable location and would have a negative environmental impact through additional traffic movements, highways issues, and “it has not been established that the proposed development would not generate additional foul water flows which would result in an increase in phosphate levels in the Cleddau River catchment adversely affecting the Cleddau Rivers Special Area of Conservation”.

TWO SCHOOL pupils from Pembrokeshire came out on top as the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has revealed the winning designs for its Christmas card design competition.

Children from primary schools across Wales had been invited to submit a farming themed Christmas card design in aid of Wales Air Ambulance, the FUW’s current Presidential charity.

The competition was split into two categories – English and Welsh designs. The English category was won by Will Smith, 10 years old, from Roch Community School, Haverfordwest. The Welsh category was won by Keira Lewis, 9 years old, from Narberth CP School, Pembrokeshire.

FUW President Ian Rickman said: “The competition was a roaring success once again and has attracted hundreds of entries from across Wales. The standard was very high and presented the judges with a tough task when it came to choosing the winners.

“I would like to thank every single child who entered the competition and to tell them that without their participation the contest would not have been such a success. I would also like to express my gratitude to the staff at the schools up and down the country that assisted the FUW in the running of the competition.

“It gave children in urban and rural areas of Wales an opportunity to connect with the farming industry and express their thoughts in a creative and colourful way. I believe it is vital that we as farmers maintain a strong link with young people so that they understand the way that food is produced in this country.”

The cards can be purchased either from the FUW’s head office by calling 01970 820820 or from respective FUW county offices.

TESCO said this week that their customers can make a huge difference to the lives of Pembrokeshire people facing hunger and hardship by donating long-life items.

This comes as stores in Pembrokeshire are taking part in the 12^th annual Tesco Winter Food Collection, with donated items going directly to the charities Trussell and FareShare.

Both charities expect to see extremely high demand for their services this winter, and the Food Collection provides vital extra donations.

Ken Murphy, Tesco Group CEO, said: “Our partners tell us they’ve seen even more families needing their help and they expect demand to increase this winter, so we’re encouraging Pembrokeshire customers to donate whatever they can to our Winter Food Collection. With frontline charities and foodbanks facing exceptionally high demand this year, pre-packed donation bags make it easy to make a big difference to someone else’s Christmas.

“We’ve boosted our ongoing support to FareShare and Trussell with a donation of £500,000 each this year to help them meet additional demand through the summer and winter holiday periods when family finances are facing the most strain.”

Research shows that almost a quarter of children under four are now facing hunger and hardship – making them the age group most at risk – while a record 9.3 million people in the UK are facing hunger and hardship.

FareShare is reporting a similar story in its annual impact report, with the 8,000 charity partners and community groups they support having seen an 86% increase in people accessing their services, and more than two in three of their partner charities are seeing more people accessing their support for the first time.

In response to this, Tesco is making its pre-packed customer donation bags available at even more stores in an effort to top the 2 million meals donated at last year’s collection.

All large stores already offer them during the supermarket’s Winter Food Collection, but this year 86 of the largest Express stores will also stock them to make donating even easier no matter where you shop.

The bags, which typically cost between £2 and £3, are pre-filled with healthy and nutritious long-life items and can be picked up by Pembrokeshire customers in store and paid for at the checkout. The donated food is passed to FareShare and Trussell, who will distribute it to charities and food banks to help families who need it most.

Tesco’s Winter Food Collection, the biggest in the UK, runs in Express stores from 25-30 Novemberand in large stores from 28-30 November.

According to FareShare and Trussell are UHT & powered milk, the most-needed items tinned meat and fish, and sponge/rice pudding.

Emma Revie, Trussell Chief Executive, said: “Food banks are a last resort for people who’ve been left facing hunger and hardship. They’re a lifeline, offering a warm welcome and space to be heard. But with so many people unable to afford the essentials right now, food banks are having to purchase record amounts of emergency food.

“I know times are tough for everyone at the moment but, the Tesco Winter Collection is the perfect opportunity to donate. Options like the pre-packed donation bags and round-up-at-till make it easier than ever to support your local food bank today and help end hunger for good.”

Winter is typically the busiest time of year for Tesco’s charity partners, which see a marked increase in the number of people needing to turn to them for support. Between December 2023 and January 2024, Trussell’s community of food banks distributed more than 600,000 food parcels, and they are expecting another tough winter as levels of need remain high.

Kris Gibbon-Walsh, FareShare Chief Executive, said: “For more than 12 years, Tesco has been a brilliant partner, providing vital support to FareShare and communities across the UK, giving food and funding to ensure we can continue getting supplies to over 8,000 charities and community groups.

“The Tesco Winter Food Collection enables us to collect long-life, staple ingredients that complement the fresh surplus food we redistribute. If you’re able to donate just one item at your local store, you’ll be helping to provide a meal for someone in hardship this winter.”

Throughout the year, Tesco donates surplus food from its distribution network and stores through its charity and community partners, FareShare and Olio. Since 2012, Tesco has donated the equivalent of more than 220million meals through its Community Food Connection programme.