County planners have approved a south Pembrokeshire caravan site’s bid to keep its seasonal pitches.
In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Mr and Mrs Page, through agent Ian Bartlett Planning and Architectural Services, sought a certificate of lawfulness approval for the existing use of seasonal holiday tent pitches on land at Little Kings Park Leisure Caravan Site, Amroth Road, Ludchurch.
A certificate of lawfulness can confirm an existing use if the applicant proves it has continued for the required period.
The owners bought Little Kings Holiday Park as a going concern in January 2015, when it had 66 touring caravan pitches, 60 camping pitches, 28 holiday homes, two toilet blocks, a tavern and a swimming pool; the camping pitches also had 29 electric hook-ups.
The land had been used for camping from March to October each year since 2015, after the previous owners had used it for about 20 years.
The agent’s statement said the land was marketed to customers as a tent site with electric hook-ups when it was bought, adding: “it was unknown to the applicants that the material change of use of the land did not form part of the wider permission for the holiday use at Little Kings Holiday Park”.
Between 2015 and 2020 the applicants continued to utilise the land for up to 60 camping pitches before creating formal camping pitches reducing the number of tents that could occupy the site area from 60 to 29.
The statement added: “The applicants have evidence of bookings for use of the site for camping since their purchase of Little Kings Holiday Park in 2015. In July, 2015, the applicants introduced a third-party booking provider, ‘Pitch Up’, which they continue to use to date,” as well as a ‘Camp Manager’ booking system detailing bookings back to 2019.
It also cited Google Earth images showing the campsite in use as far back as 2006, along with social media posts.
An officer’s report recommending the certificate said: “Based on the information available, including aerial photography, it is considered on the balance of probability that the material change of use of the land to a campsite has occurred since 2006, and therefore for a period in excess of 10 years.”
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