Proposed wind turbines could tower over Bluestone resort
A PETITION calling for a full review and debate of Pembrokeshire's 'not fit for purpose' county farm policy has been launched by tenants being forced to leave their council-owned farm which is host to a Good Food Guide accredited restaurant.
Paternoster Farm near Hundleton, which has a restaurant in the old milking shed, has featured in the Good Food Guide for the last three years.
The restaurant is run by former family solicitor, Michelle Evans, with this year's Good Food Guide describing Paternoster Farm as 'earthy and rustic' with deliciousness, warmth and strength of recommendation all described as good, while the restaurant's uniqueness was rated as very good.
However, the acclaimed business built up over the last four years is now under threat, as the ten-year farm tenancy with Pembrokeshire County Council comes to an end.
In an e-petition submitted to Pembrokeshire County Council, which has already attracted more than 1,300 signatures to date, Leum Evans asks: 'We call on Pembrokeshire County Council to conduct a full and thorough review of county farm policy.
'We call for a declaration that current county farm policy is not fit for purpose when it fails to encourage diversification in a way that adds value to a farm's own produce, keeps the produce within the farm, and feeds the local community, when policy fails to support a holding such as Paternoster Farm.
'We call for a motion of no confidence in both county farm policy, and the county farm estate department. We call upon Pembrokeshire County Council to commission an independent review of farm policy by suitably qualified (independent) third parties.
'We call for a full debate on the future of the county farm estate, and whether its continued existence, in its current form, can even be justified. We call upon Pembrokeshire County Council to commission how Public Procurement Policy could effect a link between county farms, and school meals in the county.'
The petition goes on to say: 'Current county farm policy has been shown to support neither farm diversification nor integration into the community. This has been illustrated by the recent treatment of the current tenants of Paternoster Farm.
'If county farm policy does not support and encourage our type of farming enterprise, one which farms the holding to its fullest whilst caring for the land, farms regeneratively, provides employment, fosters community links, supports a wealth of local businesses, supports local schools, feeds farm produce to the community every single week of the year, then it cannot possibly be said to be fit for purpose.'
It claims £50m of public money is invested in county farms for 42 tenants, adding: 'Is this a fair and equitable distribution of local authority resources when county farm policy does nothing to encourage any benefit to the wider community?'
It finishes: 'It is all very well to seek to help new entrants into farming, but what are the authority really trying to achieve? Farming for farming's sake is not enough. The authority has to ask, who will benefit, and to what extent?'
Pembrokeshire County Council has previously said that proposals at Paternoster were in line with council policy, with novice farmers being offered a smaller farm while they get established in the industry before moving on to bigger establishments.
'Pembrokeshire County Council owns a farm estate for the expressed purpose of providing those who wish to farm a way of entering into the industry,' said a council spokesman.
'To fulfil this function, tenancies are not for life but are for a fixed term, to enable tenants to 'move on' to larger farm holdings, as these tenants are being offered the opportunity to do.'
The council said that the 10-year lease entered into with Michelle and her family reflected this policy, with them now offered a tenancy at a larger council farm holding.
The online petition runs until July 26.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
8 hours ago
- Wales Online
Three giant wind turbines planned near Bluestone
Three giant wind turbines planned near Bluestone The proposed site on agricultural land across three fields would be accessed from the A4075 via an existing track, opposite Bluestone Resort's service entrance An image of what the three wind turbines close to Oakwood and Bluestone would look like (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service ) Detailed proposals have been submitted for three towering wind turbines - each standing at 328ft - near Bluestone holiday park and the former Oakwood theme park in Pembrokeshire. Slebech Investments Limited, based in High Wycombe, has applied to Pembrokeshire County Council for permission to erect three wind turbines, each up to 100m tall, at Newhouse Farm, Canaston Bridge. The location is close to both parks and near the boundary of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. The planned development would occupy agricultural land spanning three fields, approximately 3.5 kilometres from Narberth. Access to the site would be off the A4075, using an existing track opposite the service entrance of Bluestone Resort, around 350m south of Bluestone's main roundabout entry. This formal application comes after a preliminary screening enquiry to the council in February and subsequent communication of the plans to local county councillors, community councils, and residents. Plans for three wind turbines close to Oakwood and Bluestone have been submitted to Pembrokeshire planners (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service ) Should approval be given, the trio of 1MW turbines are expected to produce enough electricity to supply around 1,900 households, according to the applicants. While the energy would feed into the national grid, investigations are ongoing into direct usage possibilities for nearby businesses. Article continues below A statement from agent Sirius Planning, said "The footprint of the proposed development is modest in scale, with the wider fields and landholding able to continue to operate with minimal impact from the proposal. "In addition, ecological enhancements implemented in recent years within the landholding will not be impacted by the proposed wind turbine development. The overall context of the site is rural with the site surrounded to the south and east by agricultural fields and woodland areas. "To the north is PBE Fuels, Bluestone Resort head office (The Grange) and Newhouse Farm. To the west are agricultural fields and the A4075, beyond which is Bluestone Resort, comprising holiday lodges and leisure amenities, and Oakwood Theme Park. A ground-mounted solar scheme is located to the south-west of the site beyond the A4075." If approved, the project would require roughly four months of construction, with an estimated 354 deliveries to the site, according to the statement. The applicants have indicated that a public consultation event is likely to take place during the planning process. In the initial screening application, Sirius suggested that the turbines could supply power for Bluestone Holiday Park Resort and/or Oakwood Theme Park. Since the initial application, Oakwood has shut down, but there have been recent discussions about a potential revival. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here On the screening application, Sirius stated: "There are no designated or non-designated features within the application site which are protected for their landscape and scenic value. The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park lies to the north and west beyond the Bluestone Resort and Oakwood Theme Park. "The landscape character already incorporates existing wind turbines and other large vertical structures, such as Oaklands Theme Park rollercoasters which are existing detractors within the landscape." Article continues below According to Companies House, Slebech Investments Limited, based at West Wycombe Park Office, West Wycombe Park, lists two directors: Sir Edward John Francis Dashwood and Lady Lucinda Nell Dashwood. The proposals will be reviewed by county planners at a future date.
Pembrokeshire Herald
17 hours ago
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Petition launched over Reform councillor's co-option
Anti-racism campaigners challenge appointment as Cllr Scott Thorley hits back A PETITION has been launched calling for a review of co-option procedures at Haverfordwest Town Council after a Reform UK candidate was appointed to a vacant seat. Scott Thorley, who stood for Reform UK in February's Prendergast by-election, was co-opted to the town council on Thursday (Apr 17). Just two days later, political graffiti appeared at Withybush Retail Park—where he works—prompting further controversy. Scott Thorley: Now co-opted as a town councillor he had stood for election onto Pembrokeshire County Council The petition, organised by campaign group West Wales Stand Up to Racism, claims Thorley's appointment is incompatible with Wales' national commitment to building an anti-racist society. It calls on Pembrokeshire County Council to reaffirm its support for the Welsh Government's Anti-racist Wales Action Plan (AWAP), and for the town council to review its procedures to ensure future co-options reflect 'ethical governance and inclusivity'. Campaigners have highlighted Reform UK's opposition to the AWAP, which they describe as a key equality strategy aimed at eradicating systemic racism in Wales by 2030. The party has publicly criticised aspects of the plan, including measures designed to increase ethnic minority representation in teaching and public life. Graffiti messages reading 'KEIR STARMER OUT, REFORM IN! GOD SAVE US' and 'VOTE REFORM' were found sprayed in large letters across retail park walls on Saturday (Apr 19), two days after Thorley's appointment. Speaking to The Pembrokeshire Herald, Thorley strongly condemned the vandalism: 'Whoever has done this, it is vandalism plain and simple. It doesn't help us—it's embarrassing.' In response to the petition, Thorley issued a statement in full: 'As I have been invited to help on the anti-racist action plan by Councillor Randell Thomas-Turner, I'm really confused by their comments. I'm very much looking forward to helping integrate communities together in Haverfordwest using food, drink, culture, music and talking. 'In my experience from dealing with them they are far from fighting racism. Just because they say they're anti-racist doesn't mean they are—just as much as Jim Jones said he was the messiah. 'They don't stand for election or try and join the town councils—they are cowards and try to bully people into changing their opinions. 'Politics is about talking and helping people. They need to grow up, take their Che Guevara posters off their walls at home, and stop acting like stroppy teenagers.' Reform UK has been openly critical of the Anti-racist Wales Action Plan, arguing that it promotes what they describe as divisive 'identity politics.' The party objects to measures such as offering higher education grants to ethnic minority trainee teachers, which they claim amounts to racial preference and undermines equality based on merit. Reform figures have also criticised proposals to alter public spaces to accommodate cultural sensitivities, saying such policies are impractical and distract from core public concerns. Supporters of the plan argue it is a necessary step to address systemic racism and promote fairer opportunities across all sectors of Welsh society. The petition, remains open and has been circulated online by local campaigners, comes just days after Reform UK achieved a significant breakthrough in West Wales. On May 29, Michelle Beer won a by-election in the Lliedi ward of Llanelli, becoming the first Reform UK councillor elected to Carmarthenshire County Council. Her victory marked a notable gain for the party in a traditionally Labour stronghold, reflecting its growing presence in Welsh local politics. Reform UK has not issued a separate comment. PHOTO CAPTION: Under fire: Scott Thorley, pictured earlier this year with local police, says critics are more interested in 'bullying' than dialogue (Pic: Reform/Facebook)
Pembrokeshire Herald
17 hours ago
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Proposed wind turbines could tower over Bluestone resort
A PETITION calling for a full review and debate of Pembrokeshire's 'not fit for purpose' county farm policy has been launched by tenants being forced to leave their council-owned farm which is host to a Good Food Guide accredited restaurant. Paternoster Farm near Hundleton, which has a restaurant in the old milking shed, has featured in the Good Food Guide for the last three years. The restaurant is run by former family solicitor, Michelle Evans, with this year's Good Food Guide describing Paternoster Farm as 'earthy and rustic' with deliciousness, warmth and strength of recommendation all described as good, while the restaurant's uniqueness was rated as very good. However, the acclaimed business built up over the last four years is now under threat, as the ten-year farm tenancy with Pembrokeshire County Council comes to an end. In an e-petition submitted to Pembrokeshire County Council, which has already attracted more than 1,300 signatures to date, Leum Evans asks: 'We call on Pembrokeshire County Council to conduct a full and thorough review of county farm policy. 'We call for a declaration that current county farm policy is not fit for purpose when it fails to encourage diversification in a way that adds value to a farm's own produce, keeps the produce within the farm, and feeds the local community, when policy fails to support a holding such as Paternoster Farm. 'We call for a motion of no confidence in both county farm policy, and the county farm estate department. We call upon Pembrokeshire County Council to commission an independent review of farm policy by suitably qualified (independent) third parties. 'We call for a full debate on the future of the county farm estate, and whether its continued existence, in its current form, can even be justified. We call upon Pembrokeshire County Council to commission how Public Procurement Policy could effect a link between county farms, and school meals in the county.' The petition goes on to say: 'Current county farm policy has been shown to support neither farm diversification nor integration into the community. This has been illustrated by the recent treatment of the current tenants of Paternoster Farm. 'If county farm policy does not support and encourage our type of farming enterprise, one which farms the holding to its fullest whilst caring for the land, farms regeneratively, provides employment, fosters community links, supports a wealth of local businesses, supports local schools, feeds farm produce to the community every single week of the year, then it cannot possibly be said to be fit for purpose.' It claims £50m of public money is invested in county farms for 42 tenants, adding: 'Is this a fair and equitable distribution of local authority resources when county farm policy does nothing to encourage any benefit to the wider community?' It finishes: 'It is all very well to seek to help new entrants into farming, but what are the authority really trying to achieve? Farming for farming's sake is not enough. The authority has to ask, who will benefit, and to what extent?' Pembrokeshire County Council has previously said that proposals at Paternoster were in line with council policy, with novice farmers being offered a smaller farm while they get established in the industry before moving on to bigger establishments. 'Pembrokeshire County Council owns a farm estate for the expressed purpose of providing those who wish to farm a way of entering into the industry,' said a council spokesman. 'To fulfil this function, tenancies are not for life but are for a fixed term, to enable tenants to 'move on' to larger farm holdings, as these tenants are being offered the opportunity to do.' The council said that the 10-year lease entered into with Michelle and her family reflected this policy, with them now offered a tenancy at a larger council farm holding. The online petition runs until July 26.
