Politics
Campervan car park trial in Pembrokeshire to come under spotlight

A RECENTLY-BACKED decision by senior Pembrokeshire councillors to allow a trial scheme for overnight motorhome and campervan parking at some of the county’s car parks is to come under further scrutiny.
Members of the council’s Cabinet, at their February meeting, backed a proposal for a trial run ‘Pembs Stop’ scheme at four car parks: North Beach, Tenby; Goodwick Moor, Goodwick; Townsmoor, Narberth; and Western Way, Pembroke Dock.
The ‘Pembs Stop’ trial areas, available for up to two nights, will operate year-round at £10 a night for a trial 18-month period, expected to start in July.
It was stressed the scheme was not intended to create ‘campsites,’ with a list of criteria including no LPG bottles or furniture to be stored outside, and no camping waste or recycling points being provided.
But local businesses say the proposals will harm Pembrokeshire.
Phil Davies, who owns Hungerford Farm Touring Caravan and Motorhome Park near Loveston, said: “One and two-night stays from motorhomes and campervans make up between 25 and 30 per cent of his annual turnover.
“Should the 18-month trial go ahead the drop in business will cause job losses within the industry as many businesses could not survive even a temporary drop in trade.”
He also criticised the Cabinet report for using evidence from Gwynedd Council which has faced similar issues, saying the research data, from 2021, was during a period when visitor numbers were “artificially high” as the country was still under Covid travel restrictions.
The Pembs Stop initiative would also place an additional burden on existing services, with many using public toilets to dispose of waste in order to travel empty to save fuel, Mr Davies said.
In a letter to the council on behalf of Narberth traders, Christine James said: “We feel let down that a matter such as this, with potential to have such huge effects on local residents and businesses, has not been brought to our attention.”
She said no-one in Narberth had been notified of the proposals prior to the cabinet meeting in February.
Vicky Gleeson, owner of Ty Creft on Narberth High Street, said: “One lady has recently been turned down for change of use of the upper level of her commercial premises into accommodation. The reason: increased phosphates into the sewerage system. How many phosphates will enter the water system if you’re allowing hundreds of people to pour their waste and chemicals down the public toilets?”
She added: “There are so many towns with dead high streets, empty shops and no visitors. Narberth is not one of those towns. It’s busy and thriving. It is a jewel in Pembrokeshire’s crown and PCC should be fighting to keep it and protect it.”
Councillor Di Clements has been working with those in her ward who will be affected, and also Narberth traders who contacted her, to make sure their concerns are heard.
She added: “It’s disappointing that businesses and residents in and around the trial areas weren’t consulted before it was given the go ahead. We are lucky here in Pembrokeshire to have such a beautiful landscape.
“While that has increased pressure from motorhomes and campervans in places like Manorbier and Newgale, the Pembs Stop trial places the council in direct competition with businesses like Mr Davies’ in an already saturated market.”
Cllr Clements has called for the matter be sent to the council’s policy and pre decision scrutiny committee for further discussion, which will now be considered at its April 9 meeting.
A report before the committee says: “After Cabinet, Cllr Clement raised concerns that the report would benefit from more oversight. The comments were raised with the Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, who agreed that the matter be referred to Policy & Predecision Overview & Scrutiny Committee, and the chair of the committee supported this.
“As well as Cllr Clement’s observations there have been a number of comments raised about the decision, and the matter also received national coverage in terms of a discussion on phone-in programme on BBC Radio Wales on February 13.”
The report also highlights support received for the trial.
One comment received said: “I am writing on behalf of a vibrant group of motorhome enthusiasts who cherish exploring the beauty of Wales while respecting its communities and environment.
“We recently became aware of your pioneering ‘Pembs Stop’ initiative to accommodate overnight campers in selected car parks. This thoughtful decision not only showcases your commitment to promoting tourism in a sustainable manner but also acknowledges the growing interest in motorhome travel.
“We are a group deeply committed to responsible motor homing. We always strive to leave places better than we found them, supporting local businesses, and engaging positively with the communities we visit. Your initiative directly supports our ability to do so in the Pembrokeshire area; enhancing our members’ experiences while ensuring we contribute positively to the local area.
“We wanted to extend our heartfelt thanks to you and everyone involved in the Pembs Stop decision. Your forward-thinking approach not only makes a significant difference to motorhome enthusiasts like us but also sets a commendable example for how communities can embrace the benefits of responsible motorhome tourism.
“Please consider this email as a token of our appreciation and a pledge from our community to support and promote this initiative.”
News
Withyhedge site monitoring cost the council £170,000

PEMBROKESHIRE County Council’s monitoring of the controversial Withyhedge landfill site and unsuccessful legal challenge cost it nearly £170,000, councillors heard.
Last October, Pembrokeshire County Council went to court to seek an interim injunction against operators RML after asking it to give a legally binding undertaking to stop the odour coming from Withyhedge Landfill, near Haverfordwest.
The legal action came after months of residents complaining of foul odours and potentially harmful gasses coming from the landfill site.
A circuit judge found that the tip was causing nuisance, but believed that the council had gone about its application in the wrong way, refusing to grant an interim injunction.
The authority’s legal counsel had recommended the council appeal that decision, but this was not done due to costs involved and the situation at the tip had improved.
A report, presented by Cabinet member for Residents’ Services Cllr Rhys Sinnett at Pembrokeshire County Council’s March 6 meeting, said: “Although our legal counsel did not believe this decision was correct and recommended an appeal, the Authority was in a difficult position when considering the costs of appealing and the costs outlay already incurred for taking the court action, as well as the provision of independent air quality monitoring and officer time dealing with this issue.
“This was due to the potential financial exposure considered against the fact that a marked improvement in the situation has been noted. We would like to stress that it is firmly believed that the legal pressure the council had placed on the operator in the period from April to October 2024 had a significant impact on the efforts and pace of the remedial works undertaken by the operator.
“Legal costs were ordered to be paid by the Authority in the sum of £169,110.87, although the actual sum was reduced by agreement to £100,000.”
The report also detailed other financial implications for the council: “Costs for air quality monitoring, legal and ancillary costs for translation of reports and some staff overtime in out of hours monitoring total £166,544 [to date]. This figure includes the additional static monitoring until 31 March 2025.”
Members heard that complaint numbers to Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and PCC have been low since early January 2025 when waste tipping started again, other than a peak in mid-January from a Ricardo static monitor located at Spittal School, but were “not considered to be emanating from the landfill site,” with site inspections “indicating that the operator is following revised waste acceptance procedures which have previously been reviewed and accepted by NRW”.
Funding from Pembrokeshire County Council and Natural Resources Wales has been secured to allow the air quality monitoring via the static monitor at Spittal School to continue until March 31, but would cost £57,215 for an extra year, members heard.
Members agreed to note the report and to continue the air quality monitoring at Spittal school, reviewed on a quarterly basis, dependent on air quality results and the level of community odour complaints received.
Health
Planned west Wales ‘super hospital’ on hold for a decade

A CALL for an urgent meeting between Pembrokeshire’s leader and the local health board has been made after the board recently identified nine ‘fragile’ areas of service.
Late last year, Hywel Dda University Health Board stated a planned new west Wales hospital, based at either Whitland or St Clears, would not be up-and-running for at least a decade.
That scheme would see both Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest and Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen being ‘repurposed’, with community hubs developed.
In the meantime, the board heard services across the UK have consolidated and standards increased and Hywel Dda risks falling significantly behind other areas with consequences for patient care and staff recruitment, with work to support nine ‘fragile’ services in the interim of a new hospital already begun.
The board’s executive director of strategy and planning, Lee Davies said at the time: “In the absence of a new hospital in the south of our area to address challenges, we need to consider other options to bring together some of our services.
“We anticipate the emerging model, informed by work on the Clinical Services Plan, will seek to build on the strengths of each of the hospital sites in a way that builds complementary areas of expertise.”
At the March 6 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, a submitted question by Cllr Alistair Cameron asked: “On November 28, 2024, Hywel Dda UHB announced that, since financial support is not secured, delivery of a new hospital (to be located in either St Clears or Whitland) is likely to be at least 10 years from now.
“In the same statement the health board stated that it risks falling significantly behind other areas [of the UK] with consequences for patient care and staff recruitment and that it has identified nine fragile services: Critical Care, Emergency General Surgery, Stroke, Endoscopy, Radiology, Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedics and Urology.
“Could the Leader of Council seek an urgent meeting between the council and the chief executive of Hywel Dda UHB so that he can explain his strategy for safeguarding these nine fragile services which are vital to Pembrokeshire residents and what action has been taken so far?”
Responding, Leader Cllr Jon Harvey said: “I share your concern about health service provision; contact has been made with the health board with regard to a meeting, a response is awaited,” adding that a seminar for councillors on the issue was also due to be held.
News
Pembrokeshire becomes latest council to consider devolution of Crown Estate

SENIOR councillors will consider a bid for Pembrokeshire to become the latest council to support the devolution of Crown Estate assets to Wales.
15 local authorities are currently backing calls for this economic asset to be placed in Welsh hands.
The latest to join the campaign are Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil (both on March 5), and Isle of Anglesey (March 6), bringing the total across Wales to 15.
The Crown Estate owns 65 per cent of Wales’ riverbeds and beaches, as well as more than 50,000 acres of land – valued at over £603m.
Proceeds from these go to the Crown Estate, funding the Royal Family and contributing to the UK Treasury.
Responsibility for the Crown Estate is already devolved to the Scottish Government, which has previously been reported as generating £103.6 million into the public coffers in Scotland in 2023.
A notice of motion submitted to the March 6 meeting by Plaid Cymru councillor Michael Williams said: “We ask PCC to support the proposal for the Crown Estate assets to be devolved to the people of Wales, so that profits can be used to invest in the economy and communities of Wales.
“A poll in 2023 showed that 75 per cent of the population were in favour of taking control of the assets of the Crown estate rather than the profits going to the Treasury and the Crown.
“Local Authorities are under huge financial pressure and placing the Crown Estate in the hands of Wales would be a significant step to address the lack of investment in our local government.
“We call upon the Welsh Government to ask Westminster to devolve the assets and revenue of the Crown Estates as a matter of urgency, as was done in Scotland in 2017.
“We demand that Wales is treated fairly and accepts management of the Crown Estate land for the benefit of the people of Wales.”
Members agreed the matter be referred to the council’s Cabinet for further consideration.
Earlier in that meeting, a submitted question by Independent Group leader Cllr Huw Murphy on the subject was heard.
He asked: “Can PCC provide the annual income the Crown Estates derive from Pembrokeshire as the Crown Estates map indicate that the majority of the Pembrokeshire Coastline to include much of the Milford Haven waterway is owned by the Crown Estates?”
Responding to that question, Cabinet member for finance Cllr Joshua Beynon said the total amounted to £59,005, including £26,600 for foreshore lease agreements, £8,520 for the land around Haverfordwest’s Riverside Market, and £12,800 for a sailing centre and care park at Cosheston Pill near Pembroke Dock.
Late last year councillors in neighbouring Ceredigion backed a call for the Crown Estate assets to be devolved to the people of Wales, following a notice of motion by Cllr Catrin M S Davies, seconded by Cllr Alun Williams.
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