Plans to establish a mobile lodge and caravan site in a picturesque corner of Pembrokeshire have been halted following robust objections over the scheme’s potential environmental consequences. The proposal, tabled by Richard Jenkins, aimed to change the use of land near Herbrandston’s Middle Kilns Road, including the creation of a community parking area, new passing bays, and measures to enhance the local landscape and ecology.
The application was brought before Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee in July, where it was recommended for refusal on ecological grounds. The most significant concerns surrounded the risk to rare local wildlife — particularly the Greater Horseshoe Bat, a species reliant on the adjacent habitats for foraging and navigation.
In official documents, planning officers highlighted the sensitivity of the location: the site sits in close proximity to two key conservation areas: the Milford Haven Waterway Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the Pembrokeshire Marine Special Area of Conservation (SAC). These protected zones demand careful management to avoid any adverse impact on their unique plant and animal populations.
To better understand the impact of the proposed development, a habitats regulations assessment (HRA) was conducted. This comprehensive review concluded that the lodge and caravan site — especially given the planned use of extensive glass in the structures — could significantly disturb bat corridors, potentially affecting the crucial routes used by these rare mammals across the protected landscape.
Local opposition to the proposal was strong. Herbrandston Community Council raised formal objections, voicing concern about what councillors viewed as the potential devastation of a sensitive waterside environment. At a public meeting, Councillor Des Galdo spoke passionately against the scheme, contending that the change of use would inflict lasting harm on the shoreline. He accused the applicant of damaging the area’s ecology and described recent changes as destructive to both plants and wildlife.
“The wildlife has been frightened, and plants destroyed,” Cllr Galdo argued. “Allowing a dwelling at a site of such scientific importance would be devastating.” His remarks captured the mood of many in the local community, with fears that development could reverse years of environmental stewardship.
Attempting to counteract these criticisms, Andrew Vaughan-Harries, representing Mr Jenkins, defended the intentions behind the project. He asserted that rather than causing harm, Mr Jenkins had spent considerable effort improving the site. According to Vaughan-Harries, the area had previously suffered from neglect, becoming a dumping ground, and that much of Mr Jenkins’ work focused on clearing rubbish, carrying out repairs to footpaths, and restoring a historic Grade II-listed lime kiln on the site.
“There’s a lot of doom and gloom being spoken about, but Mr Jenkins has done significant hard work here,” Vaughan-Harries noted. “This initiative would have also delivered some community benefits, such as parking and landscape improvements.”
Despite these arguments, the committee remained unconvinced by the potential benefits to the community. The decision was unanimous — with members consistently highlighting the uncertain effects on wildlife, especially the bats that rely on the area’s unique corridors.
This decision underscores the increasingly difficult balance between the desire to provide new facilities in rural or scenic areas and the need to safeguard irreplaceable natural habitats. With Wales — and Pembrokeshire in particular — recognised for its diverse and sensitive environments, planning authorities continue to grapple with complex cases where development and conservation interests clash directly.
For now, the refusal marks another chapter in the ongoing debate over how best to steward Wales’ natural beauty and ecological assets, ensuring that changes to the landscape serve the broader public interest without incurring unacceptable costs to plants, wildlife, and future generations.