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Pembrokeshire Herald
07-05-2025
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Man airlifted with serious injuries after four-vehicle crash on A40
Temporary 28-day sites to require planning permission from 2026 THE PEMBROKESHIRE COAST NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY has approved new planning controls that will remove the automatic right to operate temporary 28-day campsites from 1 January 2026. At a meeting on Wednesday (May 7), members voted to introduce an Article 4(1) Direction following months of public consultation and growing concerns over the impact of unregulated camping on protected landscapes, biodiversity, and rural communities. What's changing? Currently, landowners can host temporary campsites, caravan pitches or mobile homes for up to 28 days a year without planning permission. From 2026, this right will be withdrawn within the National Park, and landowners must apply for planning consent. The Authority has pledged to support applicants by offering: No planning application fees A free pre-application advice service Priority handling of relevant applications The move aims to tackle visual intrusion, ecological harm, and noise linked to short-term pop-up sites. What the rules don't affect A clarification issued in March confirmed that the Direction does not apply to: Temporary car parks, mobile saunas, or filming activities Sites operating under exemption certificates Camping that is clearly ancillary to permitted temporary events—such as festivals, weddings, agricultural shows or film shoots To determine if camping qualifies as 'ancillary,' the Authority will consider the event's licensing, advertising, how much of the site is used for camping, and the duration of the event. Festival concerns addressed Earlier concerns were raised by festival organisers about the potential impact on events. Amber Lort-Phillips, founder of The Big Retreat wellbeing festival in Lawrenny, previously said the event's future in Pembrokeshire was under threat: 'We might have to move it. It's not fair. Our permitted development is how we run the campsite.' However, following the Authority's clarification that festivals with ancillary camping are exempt, these concerns have now been address. The Big Retreat, a four-day event drawing thousands of visitors and contributing an estimated £1 million to the local economy, is likely to remain unaffected under the clarified rules. Joe Worley, organiser of Westival in Manorbier, also raised concerns: 'The change came as a shock. If we can't get planning permission for the campsite field, the event can't go ahead.' Fears from rural landowners Some farmers and landowners fear the new rules will threaten their seasonal income. Dai Williams of Clifftops Camping near Druidston called the move a 'knee-jerk reaction' to the post-Covid tourism boom. 'This could shut down viable rural businesses that have helped keep farms going during tough seasons,' he said. Support for tighter regulation Others welcome the changes. Ben Carden of Woodlands Champions Club, which runs 16 permanent sites in Pembrokeshire, said many temporary campsites operate without adequate facilities. 'I visited one with 200 pitches, three toilets and one sink. That's not acceptable. There needs to be a standard.' The Authority says temporary campsites currently account for 12% of its enforcement workload. Next steps and voluntary Code The National Park Authority has committed to working with exempted organisations to create a voluntary Code of Conduct, ensuring high standards across all camping activity. The Article 4(1) Direction comes into force on 1 January 2026, giving landowners time to prepare and submit applications ahead of the next camping season. Further details and the full clarification are available at:
Pembrokeshire Herald
07-05-2025
- Pembrokeshire Herald
New campsite controls confirmed for Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
Temporary 28-day sites to require planning permission from 2026 THE PEMBROKESHIRE COAST NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY has approved new planning controls that will remove the automatic right to operate temporary 28-day campsites from 1 January 2026. At a meeting on Wednesday (May 7), members voted to introduce an Article 4(1) Direction following months of public consultation and growing concerns over the impact of unregulated camping on protected landscapes, biodiversity, and rural communities. What's changing? Currently, landowners can host temporary campsites, caravan pitches or mobile homes for up to 28 days a year without planning permission. From 2026, this right will be withdrawn within the National Park, and landowners must apply for planning consent. The Authority has pledged to support applicants by offering: No planning application fees A free pre-application advice service Priority handling of relevant applications The move aims to tackle visual intrusion, ecological harm, and noise linked to short-term pop-up sites. What the rules don't affect A clarification issued in March confirmed that the Direction does not apply to: Temporary car parks, mobile saunas, or filming activities Sites operating under exemption certificates Camping that is clearly ancillary to permitted temporary events—such as festivals, weddings, agricultural shows or film shoots To determine if camping qualifies as 'ancillary,' the Authority will consider the event's licensing, advertising, how much of the site is used for camping, and the duration of the event. Festival concerns addressed Earlier concerns were raised by festival organisers about the potential impact on events. Amber Lort-Phillips, founder of The Big Retreat wellbeing festival in Lawrenny, previously said the event's future in Pembrokeshire was under threat: 'We might have to move it. It's not fair. Our permitted development is how we run the campsite.' However, following the Authority's clarification that festivals with ancillary camping are exempt, these concerns have now been address. The Big Retreat, a four-day event drawing thousands of visitors and contributing an estimated £1 million to the local economy, is likely to remain unaffected under the clarified rules. Joe Worley, organiser of Westival in Manorbier, also raised concerns: 'The change came as a shock. If we can't get planning permission for the campsite field, the event can't go ahead.' Fears from rural landowners Some farmers and landowners fear the new rules will threaten their seasonal income. Dai Williams of Clifftops Camping near Druidston called the move a 'knee-jerk reaction' to the post-Covid tourism boom. 'This could shut down viable rural businesses that have helped keep farms going during tough seasons,' he said. Support for tighter regulation Others welcome the changes. Ben Carden of Woodlands Champions Club, which runs 16 permanent sites in Pembrokeshire, said many temporary campsites operate without adequate facilities. 'I visited one with 200 pitches, three toilets and one sink. That's not acceptable. There needs to be a standard.' The Authority says temporary campsites currently account for 12% of its enforcement workload. Next steps and voluntary Code The National Park Authority has committed to working with exempted organisations to create a voluntary Code of Conduct, ensuring high standards across all camping activity. The Article 4(1) Direction comes into force on 1 January 2026, giving landowners time to prepare and submit applications ahead of the next camping season. Further details and the full clarification are available at:
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Yahoo
Fears planning rules could force festivals to leave Wales
Festival organisers say they could be forced to move in 2026 because of new rules to control temporary campsites. Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority members have supported plans that will force landowners to apply for planning permission for pop-up campsites which can exist for up to 28 days a year. Festival organiser Amber Lort-Phillips said her "Big Retreat" wellbeing festival may have to move to England in 2026. The authority said the new rules were designed to "create a level playing field" and claimed they had "strong support". Under current rules, land owners can open temporary campsites in Wales under "permitted development" for up to 28 days a year. In England, it is 60 days, and the Welsh government will soon consult on extending the period in the rest of Wales. The Pembrokeshire park authority is the only one in Wales to plan tighter restrictions since tougher rules were drawn up for Gower in 1977. The two other national parks in Wales have no plans to change the 28-day rule. Couple moving to England over campsite rules Concerns pop-up campsites 'harming communities' Push for new national park on 75th birthday Although there will be no effect on festivals with temporary campsites in 2025, Ms Lort-Phillips fears her four day well-being festival in Lawrenny, which brings an estimated £1m to the local economy, could have to move next year. "It's essential. We couldn't run without our permitted development, because it's how we run our campsite. "The impact is we might have to move it. It's our home for the Big Retreat and it's not fair. We are potentially having to look at other sites and move the festival outside of Wales." She claimed there was "no real evidence" for a blanket approach and there was no guarantee temporary campsites would get planning permission. The National Park said it "aims to prioritise applications" to minimise delays. The Pembrokeshire authority's chief executive, Tegryn Jones, told BBC Wales there was "no control" over temporary campsites and they took up 12% of the authority's enforcement time. He said pop-up campsites led to a "stream of complaints" and they were "seeking to take a small measure to even the playing field". The measures have been supported by Ben Carden from the Woodlands Champions Club which runs 16 sites in Pembrokeshire. "Quite often, there are serious implications with pop-up campsites," he said. "There can be noise nuisance for local residents. I attended one pop-up campsite that had over 200 pitches and which had just three toilets and one washbasin. "There needs to be a standard of camping." Joe Worley who runs Westival, a music festival based in Manorbier which attracts about 2,500 visitors every June, said he had not "received any direct consultation". The change which "came as a big shock", he said. "The [2026] event wouldn't be able to go ahead without the campsite. If we couldn't get planning permitted on that particular field, that could mean moving to a new site," he said. "It feels quite damaging to a lot of businesses." The authority said 120 people responded to a public consultation, which equates to about 0.5% of the park's population of 23,000. Many were complaining about the effect on landscape, biodiversity, pressure on local infrastructure and noise. But Ms Lort-Phillips criticised the consultation process and said the measures would harm "economic development" in the park. Mr Jones said he "did not accept that". Dai Williams set up a temporary campsite on his land near Druidstone in 2021 to provide extra income which he said had a "fantastic response" from visitors. He argued that the park's plans were a "knee-jerk" reaction to the post-Covid surge in visitors, warning that the new regulations might "shut down" businesses. A further consultation is being held until 21 February with a final decision expected in the spring. The changes are due to come into force on 1 January 2026. How to survive a 1,200 mile walk with your teenage son Are festivals turning from hedonism to health kicks? What's it like at the eisteddfod as a non-Welsh speaker?
BBC News
09-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Camping: Planning rules could force festivals to leave Wales
Festival organisers say they could be forced to move in 2026 because of new rules to control temporary Coast National Park Authority members have supported plans that will force landowners to apply for planning permission for pop-up campsites which can exist for up to 28 days a organiser Amber Lort-Phillips said her "Big Retreat" wellbeing festival may have to move to England in authority said the new rules were designed to "create a level playing field" and claimed they had "strong support". Under current rules, land owners can open temporary campsites in Wales under "permitted development" for up to 28 days a England, it is 60 days, and the Welsh government will soon consult on extending the period in the rest of Pembrokeshire park authority is the only one in Wales to plan tighter restrictions since tougher rules were drawn up for Gower in two other national parks in Wales have no plans to change the 28-day rule. Although there will be no effect on festivals with temporary campsites in 2025, Ms Lort-Phillips fears her four day well-being festival in Lawrenny, which brings an estimated £1m to the local economy, could have to move next year."It's essential. We couldn't run without our permitted development, because it's how we run our campsite."The impact is we might have to move it. It's our home for the Big Retreat and it's not fair. We are potentially having to look at other sites and move the festival outside of Wales."She claimed there was "no real evidence" for a blanket approach and there was no guarantee temporary campsites would get planning National Park said it "aims to prioritise applications" to minimise delays. The Pembrokeshire authority's chief executive, Tegryn Jones, told BBC Wales there was "no control" over temporary campsites and they took up 12% of the authority's enforcement said pop-up campsites led to a "stream of complaints" and they were "seeking to take a small measure to even the playing field". The measures have been supported by Ben Carden from the Woodlands Champions Club which runs 16 sites in Pembrokeshire."Quite often, there are serious implications with pop-up campsites," he said."There can be noise nuisance for local residents. I attended one pop-up campsite that had over 200 pitches and which had just three toilets and one washbasin."There needs to be a standard of camping." Joe Worley who runs Westival, a music festival based in Manorbier which attracts about 2,500 visitors every June, said he had not "received any direct consultation".The change which "came as a big shock", he said."The [2026] event wouldn't be able to go ahead without the campsite. If we couldn't get planning permitted on that particular field, that could mean moving to a new site," he said."It feels quite damaging to a lot of businesses." The authority said 120 people responded to a public consultation, which equates to about 0.5% of the park's population of 23, were complaining about the effect on landscape, biodiversity, pressure on local infrastructure and Ms Lort-Phillips criticised the consultation process and said the measures would harm "economic development" in the Jones said he "did not accept that". Dai Williams set up a temporary campsite on his land near Druidstone in 2021 to provide extra income which he said had a "fantastic response" from argued that the park's plans were a "knee-jerk" reaction to the post-Covid surge in visitors, warning that the new regulations might "shut down" businesses.A further consultation is being held until 21 February with a final decision expected in the spring. The changes are due to come into force on 1 January 2026.
