An appeal against a council enforcement notice to close an existing camp site on the outskirts of Lamphey has been successful.

Following a refusal of planning to retain her camping site at Dewslake Farm on The Ridgeway, site owner Bethan Jones had to fight a Pembrokeshire County Council enforcement notice which sought to close down her successful business.

With the assistance of long established Pembrokeshire planning consultant, Chris Kimpton of CK Planning, Ms Jones lodged an appeal against the notice which was issued last summer, and was recently given notification that her appeal had been successful, allowing her to continue operating her popular camp site.

The county council alleged that the site had breached planning control, by making a change of use of the land to a tented campsite/touring caravan site, without planning permission, stating that the terms of the notice required the owner to cease the use of the land for the siting and use by caravans and tents, and permanently remove camping pods from the land, along with toilet and shower facilities.

The notice also required that site to remove a chalet style dwelling and decking from the land, and to permanently cease the use of the agricultural building for the storage of camping and leisure paraphernalia.

In her report following a site visit earlier this year, Welsh Office Planning Inspector Melissa Hall considered that the site was well related to the village of Lamphey and not in an isolated position, as claimed by the Council.

Ms Hall also found that the economic benefits to local businesses (pubs, shops, restaurants, tourist facilities etc) from the site, and the fact that local people were employed on the site, were important aspects that supported the local economy.

“Weighing in favour of the development is the economic benefit to the local businesses, which is confirmed in the letters of support from interested parties,” stated Ms Hall in her report.

“I understand that the business employs local people and uses contract cleaning firms and laundry services in the locality. I note the contention that there is a significant tourism related spend in the local economy with visitors using the local shops, pubs, restaurants and visiting local attractions.

“The commitment to the local community and supporting the local economy are important aspects of sustainable development, as outlined in Planning Policy Wales (PPW), to which I have had regard,” she explained.

Commenting on the report, planning consultant Chris Kimpton said: “These were important matters that the Council seemed to give very little consideration to, even though it was estimated that those using the camp site were bringing hundreds of thousands of pound each year into the area.

“The site can now operate all year round serving the needs of holiday makers wishing to stay in tents, the site’s bespoke camping pods and camper vans,” he continued.

Ms Jones said that she was looking forward to working in a positive manner with the Council in the future to develop and grow the site.