Caravan site ran 'under the radar' for 20 years

Image source, Pembrokeshire County Council

Image caption, The site had been operating "under the radar" for 20 years
  • Author, Bruce Sinclair
  • Role, Local Democracy Reporter

A caravan park which was run without permission for 20 years will not be allowed to continue.

The site's owner Nicholas Kinahan sought retrospective approval to continue operating his 19 pitch caravan site in an application to Pembrokeshire council.

Councillors said Mr Kinahan mistakenly ran the business "under the radar" for two decades.

鈥淲e鈥檝e done wrong and we know we鈥檝e done wrong,鈥 the owner said, adding: 鈥淚 can鈥檛 afford to live there without this little bit of extra income.鈥

Image source, Pembrokeshire County Council

Image caption, Nicholas Kinahan admitted to 'doing wrong' and said he couldn't afford to live there without the extra income

Kilgetty and Begelly community council has objected the proposed application due to the lack of information provided by the owner and issues with access safety.

At the meeting, farmer and caravan site owner Mr Kinahan said there were three caravans on-site after he moved to Kilgetty in 2004, housing tenants 鈥渙n benefits,鈥 with nine caravans on-site by 2010 and additional vans from other sites stored on the premises later.

The application was refused after the council planning committee heard there was no surface water or foul waste drainage details, and no ecology survey or highway impact assessment carried out.

Councillor Mark Carter said: 鈥 I think we鈥檙e looking at a very honest man, unfortunately in this case he鈥檚 got it wrong; he鈥檚 had a 20-year run of dodging under the radar.

鈥淲e have to respect the law and the policy and be fair to every caravan site.

鈥淢uch as I admire the gentleman for his initiative, I have to go with the officer recommendation for refusal.鈥