New coast path threatens farm park

A farmer who built a farm park on the cliffs overlooking Cardigan Bay says local council plans to put a coastal path through his land will destroy his business.

Lyn Jenkins of Cardigan Island Farm Park, Gwbert, claims that Ceredigion County Council wants to create a new path which will cut through three of his fields and then run for about three-quarters of a mile along the coast.

Mr Jenkins claims the footpath will decimate his business, which is built on the idea of charging visitors for coastal access so they can watch a colony of Atlantic grey seals which breed in the caves below the farm.

“The whole raison d’tre of the farm is people coming to see the seals.

But no business can charge at the front door if the back door is open.

Our total investment in the farm park is more than £700,000 and the loss of value in our business could run into millions.”

What had made the situation even more ludicrous was that the council had offered only £6600 in compensation, Mr Jenkins added.

This equated to £2/linear metre for the path and a further £1/linear metre for the disturbance.

Ceredigion County Council declined to comment on the case.