Plans for Two Gypsy Traveller Pitches Approved in Pembrokeshire Despite Community Concerns

Plans for two gypsy traveller pitches at a small agricultural holding have been approved, despite community council concerns, to move a family from an existing site “suffering from cold, damp conditions”.
Anthony Thomas and family, through agent Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd, sought permission from Pembrokeshire County Council for two traveller family pitches with two static caravans, a day/utility room, two touring caravans, along with other works at Made of More Yard, Simpson Hill, Simpson Cross.
The family began using the applicant-owned site in June 2025.
Nolton and Roch Community Council said it was “minded to object”, citing concerns about the site’s suitability in open countryside, its visual impact, highway safety and the proposed utility/day room’s size.
The room was described as appearing “to be the equivalent size of the two mobile homes combined”.
A supporting statement said there was a “genuine need for an appropriate alternative site to accommodate his immediate family (parents in one pitch and wife, himself and two children in the other) in a safe and tranquil environment,” adding that “The applicant’s lifestyle falls within the definition of gypsies” and that the family preferred “for small self-development family-oriented pitches, in areas close to settlements with good accessibility to services such as schools and community facilities, rather than larger municipal run facilities for a variety of historical reasons”.
It said the county had no public or private sites available and warned of potential health concerns at the applicants’ current site.
“The existing family pitches are in poor condition suffering from cold, damp conditions, particularly during the winter months and both the applicant and his wife are fed up scrubbing the walls with bleach once a week in an attempt to control the mould.”
It concluded that the family’s circumstances, the lack of alternative sites, the site’s sustainable location and its low traffic levels were material considerations in favour of the proposal and outweighed other matters.
County planners approved the application subject to conditions. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​