NP/24/0198/FUL Planning Application- Reasons why the vast majority of residents (more than 80%) object or strongly object to this planning application.
Moylgrove is a picturesque small village situated within the Pembrokeshire Coastal National Park. It is characterised by its remote environment, historic charm, and close-knit community. The village and its surroundings are valued for their unspoiled landscapes, wildlife habitats, and cultural heritage.
The ecologically rich and beautiful Ceibwr Bay, along with Pwll Y Wrach (The Witches Cauldron) also form part of the village and are a designated Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI) as well as a Marine Special Area of Conservation (Marine SAC) being part of Cardiagn Bay, designated under European Union Law to protect a variety of important species and habitats.
The community have worked closely through Cymdeithas Trewyddel, the Charitable Incorporated Organisation which supports the welfare of residents in monitoring and helping manage environmental issues, as well as maintaining and protecting the increasingly fragile ecosystem and biodiversity found in this area. The community see it as a responsibility and opportunity to contribute to the preservation of everything this special place offers, for current and future generations, in helping maintain and regenerate the areas acknowledged ecological and environmental values. It offers a space that many wish to visit for nature tourism, for peace and immersion into a natural world that is quickly disappearing.
Working with Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, the National Trust, National Resources Wales and Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum, the community has been engaged in trying to manage adventure tourism since it began and at Ceibwr Bay and as it has expanded over the years.
Whilst visitors seeking outdoor adventures bring economic benefits to the region, it is important to consider the environmental costs associated with this increase and the appropriateness of sites to sustain these types of tourism. Far from opposing adventure tourism, the questions regarding the suitability of this location and the reasons to exploit it, when there are numerous and adequate alternative sites already identified, are the ones the community wish to highlight.
Pembrokeshire Coastal National Park is renowned for its stunning landscapes, diverse wildlife, and unique ecosystems.
The PCNP describe this area as ‘Wild and lonely, the coast around Ceibwr is especially rocky and dramatic. Ceibwr Bay is a small inlet little more than a stone’s throw wide – with a stony beach. Grey seals can often be seen close to the beach.
The cove is the only break in a forbidding stretch of cliffs from Cemaes Head to the north and Newport to the south. Their geology is striking – over millions of years the Ordovician rocks were contorted and folded by powerful earth movements and the tortured strata are clear to see. From the path above Ceibwr Bay there are excellent views of the patterned cliffs to the north at the headland Pen-yr-afr.
Ceibwr itself is a relatively recent addition to the landscape. It was carved out by Ice Age meltwater that flooded the Nant Ceibwr, the stream that now fans out over Ceibwr’s beach, along with the stream’s wooded valley, Cwm Trewyddel. The attractive village of Moylegrove shelters in the cwm.
The clifftop section from Ceibwr passes jagged rocks, caves and blowholes. At Pwll-y-Wrach, the Witches’ Cauldron, the roof of one cave has collapsed to create an impressive blow-hole. On one side a stream disappears into this ‘cauldron’, while on the other a narrow passage connects it to the sea.
Look out for the Iron Age hill fort, Castell Treriffith, close to Pwll-y-Wrach. A lonely part of the coast, the cliffs and rocks around Ceibwr are excellent for wildlife-watching’.
However, an adventure hub in Moylgrove poses numerous threats to the integrity of this precious natural environment and contradicts this description.
The proposed development does not align with the principles outlined in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’s Local Development Plan 2 (LDP 2).
The LDP 2 emphasises the importance of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, wildlife, and cultural heritage of the National Park (Policy 1).
The development of an adventure activity hub would directly conflict with these objectives by:
- Adversely affecting landscape character: The construction and operation of such a facility would disrupt the visual and aesthetic qualities of the area (Policy 8).
- Increasing traffic and noise pollution: This would detract from the tranquility and rural character of Moylgrove, contrary to the aims of sustainable tourism (Policy 35).
- Threatening local biodiversity: The area is home to numerous protected species, and increased human activity would pose a further risk to their habitats (Policy 11).
Environmental Considerations
The proposed site is in close proximity to Ceibwr Bay, a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and part of the Pembrokeshire Marine Special Area of Conservation (SAC). These designations highlight the area’s exceptional ecological value, which must be preserved. The increased footfall, usage of the coast and subsequent operational activities associated with the adventure hub would:
- Disturb sensitive habitats and species: The area is crucial for nesting birds, marine life, and other wildlife that would be severely impacted by increased human activity and environmental disruption. It is already affected by these activities and current guidance does not afford adequate protection.
- Pollution risks: There is a significant risk of pollution, including litter, noise, and potential water contamination, which would harm the delicate ecosystems present within the SSSI and SAC.
Well-being of Future Generations Act 2015
The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 requires public bodies to consider the long-term impact of their decisions and to work towards sustainable development. The Act outlines several well-being goals, including a resilient Wales, a prosperous Wales, and a Wales of cohesive communities. The proposed adventure hub would undermine these goals by:
- Compromising ecological resilience: The development would disrupt local ecosystems, making them more vulnerable to change and degradation.
- Eroding community cohesion: The influx of visitors and associated commercial activities would strain local infrastructure and detract from the sense of community that defines Moylgrove.
- Neglecting long-term sustainability: Short-term economic gains from tourism of this type must not come at the expense of long-term environmental sustainability and community well-being.
If this proposal is granted it will forever change the character of the village, local landscape and Ceibwr Bay. It will signal that the doors are open and the few wild locations like this that remain, are effectively for sale. That the Pembrokeshire Coastal National Park has forgotten its primary purpose ‘to conserve and enhance natural beauty, wildlife, and cultural heritage, allowing all to enjoy these spaces in harmony with the environment in all respects.