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News

Summer house holiday unit converted without approval gets go-ahead

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A RETROSPECTIVE scheme for a holiday accommodation unit in the garden of a south Pembrokeshire property, submitted after discussions with the council’s enforcement department, has been given the go-ahead by planners.

Mr & Mrs Sutton of Oaklands, Templeton sought retrospective permission for the self-catered holiday unit on land adjacent to the A478 Boars Head Bridge to Junction C3065.

The holiday accommodation unit itself was built between 2021 and 2023, and has raised concerns from local community council Templeton on road safety concerns, with insufficient turning space on-site.

“This could result in vehicles having to reverse out onto the A478, a main road,” the community council has said, adding: “Drivers are likely to be non-locals, so unaware of the risks of this manoeuvre. This council considers that the application and site provide inadequate visibility and safe access for users.”

Agent A.D Architectural Design Consultants Ltd’s planning statement, commissioned “following correspondence from Pembrokeshire County Council’s enforcement department” said: “The rear field has been used as a residential garden since it was purchased by our client in August 2016 with the summer house construction beginning in July 2021.

“Originally the building was used as a summer house and was completed in June 2022. A kitchen and bathroom were installed in March 2023 and the letting of the unit began in June 2023.”

Citing similar applications which had been granted permission, the statement said: “The visual impact of this development is minimal due to its scale and causes no adverse issues to the highway network. The application holds strong similarities to other applications that the authority has sought to grant consent under the same policies and in our opinion, the proposal is considered to accord with the relevant policy of the Local Development Plan for Pembrokeshire.”

A report for Pembrokeshire County Council planners, recommending approval, said: “The development would provide new self-catering accommodation, resulting in positive social impacts through the increase in availability of varied accommodation in the local area and positive economic benefits through expenditure on building materials and on labour during constriction.”

It added: “The development is considered to comply with the requirements of the relevant policies of the Local Development Plan and retrospective planning permission be granted.”

The application was approved with conditions including it be used for holiday accommodation only.

Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

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PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

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Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

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ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.

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Crime

Three men from London admit their guilt over illegal cannabis farm

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THREE men admit their guilt after police discover over 700 cannabis plants during a raid on a former school building in Llandysul.

Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police executed a warrant at the former Ysgol Gynradd Llandysul on Heol Llyn Y Fran on November 15. Inside, they found 737 cannabis plants spread across multiple rooms.

Armeld Troksi, 29, and Njazi Gjana, 27, both from Empire Avenue in Edmonton, London, along with Ervin Gjana, 24, from Durham Avenue in Romford, were arrested at the scene and later charged with producing cannabis.

The three men appeared before Swansea Crown Court, where they admitted their involvement in the illegal operation. Defence solicitor Joshua Scouller requested a pre-sentence report for Ervin Gjana, which was granted by Judge Geraint Walters.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 20.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: “Following a warrant executed at the former school on Heol Llyn Y Fran, officers discovered a significant cannabis grow containing 737 plants.

“We are grateful to the local community for their continued support and cooperation. Officers will remain in the area while the site is secured.

“Our commitment remains firm in disrupting drug production and supply networks across our force area.

“We encourage residents to report any suspicious activity, no matter how small it may seem. Every piece of information can make a difference, and reports can easily be submitted through our website.”

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