Adventure hub plan set for national park backing
Controversial plans for a new adventure tourism hub are expected to be backed by a national park, despite criticism.
Adventure Beyond, which offers coasteering and kayaking trips, wants to build a centre for visitors in Moylegrove, Pembrokeshire.
The application has been before multiple meetings of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee and has been recommended for approval at a meeting next month.
Critics of the project have said increased business for adventure firms will worsen the plight of birds and animals, including some on the UK’s amber conservation list.
The Welsh government has not reached a final decision on the proposed project.
Jet Moore from Adventure Beyond said a site previously used for equipment and vehicles for the company's activities at Ceibwr Bay could soon become unavailable.
He said the proposed site - a former bus depot – is "the only suitable commercial site for us to transfer our operations to".
Mr Moore said there had been "much positive feedback" about the plans, but he was aware of "a small but vocal group" against the development.
"I am not sure exactly what the objections are, all that has been communicated to me is that they are against ‘over-tourism’ at Ceibwr," he said.
Campaigners previously told the BBC that coasteering was damaging to nesting birds, and that they would "like to see Ceibwr kept wild".
The application was previously deferred at two meetings, one of which was for a site visit.
The Welsh government has since issued a "holding direction" which allows time to consider whether the application should be "called-in".
It added that September's recommendation for approval was "subject to the holding direction being lifted, along with an agreement on a draft habitats regulations assessment, which is not yet formally agreed by Natural Resources Wales".
