A decision by an Anglesey (Ynys Môn) family to sell their campsite and move to England has been greeted with dismay on the island and beyond. Luke and Samantha Haworth are upping sticks after being defeated by planning bureaucracy and struggling to make the business pay.
Not only is the departure of two “hard-working” parents mourned, so too is the cultural loss of their four Welsh-speaking sons who helped with the business. Critics lined up to condemn a “short-sightedness” in Wales towards businesses and entrepreneurs, especially those in tourism.
But there was also sympathy for council planning officers who ruled against the campsite’s expansion. Some people said regulations had to be observed and that, on Anglesey, a line had to be drawn to prevent the island succumbing to over-tourism.
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Having lived in North Wales for 15 years, the couple moved to Llanrhyddlad in north Anglesey in February 2021 with the “dream” of opening a rare breeds farm and camping venture. But a planning bid for glamping pods and more caravan pitches finally bit the dust in May when Anglesey Council decided the campsite could become an eyesore that would detract from the island’s coastal Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
An article highlighting the family’s plight prompted an outpouring of support for the family. While a few said they’d taken a business risk that hadn’t come off, many more said the efforts of a couple to integrate, create jobs and generate tax income should have been given as much help as possible.
Among those to react to the news was a campsite visitor. “I’m ashamed of how they have been treated by fellow Welsh people,” she wrote online. “The campsite was clean, friendly and welcoming. The lads were polite and played with our children, who are also Welsh speaking. It’s a shame that the effort this family made to integrate has not been welcomed with open arms.”
The family quickly earned friends locally. Several leapt to their defence for showing “so much consideration” for the surrounding area. One said those responsible for “driving them out of their home and livelihood.... should feel ashamed”.
“All they were trying to do was to make a life for themselves, (while) contributing to the tourism that this island needs to keep the local businesses going,” she said. “Everyone who visited and stayed at their site – local school trips and adults with learning difficulties – said they would return as they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Sadly, this will not happen now."
The family sold livestock and equipment last month and have since placed their house and campsite on the market. An acquaintance will be sad to see them go. “I know this young couple,” he said. “Personally, I feel this is a huge loss. It’s very sad to lose a young energetic couple who are working hard to give their children a good life and who actually contribute to society instead of draining it.”
Luke spent a year preparing and refining the campsite’s planning bid only to see it rejected within 19 weeks. He claimed £4,000 was spent on a traffic survey, plus more than £30,000 for various council reports and surveys. In a statement, the local authority said its advice had been disregarded (see below).
Unable to expand year-round, the business was reliant on pop-up income. Soon after the Haworths arrived, campsites and hospitality providers got the green light from Cardiff to open up for 56 days each year without the need for planning consent. This Permitted Development Rights (PDR) extension was introduced to help the rural economy recover from the Covid pandemic.
But in January, 2022, the concession was revoked in Wales and the PDR reverted to 28 days. This, claims the tourism sector, has placed Wales at a disadvantage to equivalents in England, where PDR remains at 60 days.
Luke, who gave up running a construction company to live his dream with his family, said 28 days wasn’t enough and they’ve not been able to make ends meet. They say they now have no choice but to move to England where they can take advantage of the relaxed rules and “start again”.
There are those who believe Ynys Môn is already over-saturated with campsites – and overrun with holidaymakers. One woman said tough decisions were needed. “Anglesey has got so busy in recent years,” she said. “I’d been going for over 30 years and I’ve never seen so many cars. There are plenty of campsites, caravan sites and holiday homes on Anglesey already. Trouble is, not everyone can afford to use them, so why have more?”
Those taking a pragmatic view said the family had merely taken a business risk that hadn’t paid off despite their best efforts. But for some people, their impending departure from Wales was symbolic of a wider malaise.
Responding to the couple’s story, critics queued up to accuse councils and the Welsh Government of being “anti-business” and of turning Wales into an “entrepreneur-free zone”. One person warned: “As Wales rushes to become a Third World country, they won’t be the only family who has to leave for England.”
Another added: “Cardiff is scared to death of entrepreneurs. "The free-thinkers, the motivated, the opportunity seekers, the independent, the grafters, the risk-takers."
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Not everyone sees it this way. Last month the Welsh Government committed £2m to form a “partnership” with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), a professional services company. In return, PWC is expanding its Cardiff team to create 1,000 new digital and technology jobs in Wales by 2028. Productivity is growing too - Wales was recently named a "rising star" in this respect.
While new jobs are always welcome, others said the planning system exists for good reason. Regulations, noted one contributor, aim to strike a balance that safeguards local communities and the environment.
What Anglesey Council said
The local authority said its planning officers had been "professional" throughout their dealings with Luke and Samantha. A spokesperson said: “Repeated offers were made to Mr and Mrs Haworth to meet with them in a meaningful effort to resolve matters without recourse to formal enforcement proceedings.
“Every effort was made to assist and facilitate them throughout the application process, and this is clearly evidenced within the information contained in planning files. It is regrettable that the owners chose to disregard these offers as well as the advice provided during the local planning authority’s investigation of matters.”
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