A CALL for a north Pembrokeshire farm to be able to diversify through the bottling of water from its well has been given the go-ahead.
In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, a Mr George, through agent Harries Planning Design Management, sought permission for a change of use of part of an existing agricultural shed to a use for the bottling of water as a form of farm diversification at Trerhys, near St Dogmaels, Cardigan.
A supporting statement said: “The water bottling plant will be run and under control by the applicant, who also has direct control of the associated farm known as Trerhys. The water bottling plant seeks to diversify the farm income to provide future economic sustainability and increase revenue from the land.
“The increase in profits generated by the water bottling plant business will be siphoned back into the farm business, to allow for necessary improvements and works to the farm to ensure its future within a worsening agricultural economy.”
It said the profits would be used for on-going repair and replacement of existing fencing around the farm which owns significant land, along with investing and increasing the suckler herd on the farm.
“The applicant underwent major surgery back in 2023 and had to cut back hours on the farm to recover. This meant that the suckler herd dipped in numbers and due to profitability, the farm has yet to be able to recover to its previous numbers.
“This increase in profit will allow the capital to be reinvested in the suckler herd, increase profit margins and overall profitability for the farm.”
It also said the profits would be “channelled into large repairs and overall, like-for-like replacement of a number of existing farm buildings,” and, depending on returns, “there may be scope to invest in the existing farmhouse on site”.
It concluded: “Overall, whilst the water bottling plant will take some time to become established and generate suitable profits, once established significant profits, these will be reinvested as above into the existing farm business to ensure its future can be secured for longer within an uncertain agricultural economy.
“Without diversification, the farm is set to reduce further in size and the buildings and farmyard become further run down and unsightly in the landscape.”
An officer report recommending approval said the scheme for Trerhys Farm, 1.7km to the north of Moylegrove, would use one bay of an existing shed and would “utilise the existing water source from a well within an existing agricultural field to the north of the farm complex”.
Concerns were raised by three members of the public on the grounds of a query on the water source and transportation of the finished product, and potential noise issues.
The report said a noise assessment found no detrimental impacts in the locality, with Highways officers having no concerns on transportation issues.
The officer report concluded: “Following careful consideration of the application and its merits, it is concluded that the proposed scheme represents an appropriate form of development in this location.”
The application was conditionally approved.
