Couple fear losing camping business after council ruling

A COUPLE who ploughed their savings into a farmhouse and campsite have been told to demolish the toilet and shower block, reception building and glamping pods.

- RICHARD YOULE Senior local democracy reporter

Bonnie Fisher and Shane O'Neill, who live in the farmhouse, said they would have to close Church House Farm Getaways, near Carmarthen, if this happened.

They bought the farmhouse and caravan and campsite in 2021 and went on to replace the existing toilet and shower facilities and construct a new reception building, spending tens of thousands of pounds in the process.

"This is our retirement project," said Mrs Fisher. "We sold my house, we sold Shane's house, and we sold a jointly owned cottage, which we'd renovated, to buy this place.

"We've got no plans to enlarge it. Visitors always get a good welcome. We like to see people come and enjoy themselves."

The site, in the village of Llangain, has longstanding certification by the Caravan and Motorhome Club for five caravans, motorhomes or trailer tents, but it has expanded, including the addition of three glamping pods, which predated the couple's purchase.

Carmarthenshire council has previously raised concerns about this expansion and refused a planning application in 2006 by the previous owners to change the use of land for 30 touring pitches and build a toilet and shower block on highway safety and other grounds.

The council had, however, granted temporary permission for a portable toilet block for two years in 2004.

Mrs Fisher and Mr O'Neill said the caravan and camping site had 29 pitches and they did not realise they should have applied for planning permission for the toilet and shower block and reception building.