A CAMPAIGN to save a popular farm enterprise in Flintshire from closure has been successful.
Flintshire planners have now approved plans by farmers Einion and Elliw Jones for their self-service milk and milkshake vending machines at their Mynydd Mostyn farm in Trelogan, near Holywell.
Over 10,000 people signed a petition supporting the couple, who launched the business in January, 2021, and both North Wales AS Mark Isherwood and Delyn MP Rob Roberts raised the matter in their respective parliaments.
The vending machines, housed in a wooden shed, proved an immediate hit, drawing people from a wide area, but in August last year planners refused to grant a lawful development certificate because of the scale of the business and inadequate parking facilities.
They said that planning consent was required, so the Joneses submitted a formal application in February this year.
In their supporting statements agents Roger Parry and Partners said: “Similar projects across the country have proved to be successful with the increased desire from the consumer to know exactly where their milk has been produced and to support local Welsh agriculture.
“It provides the opportunity to raise awareness among the public about milk production and provides a ‘farm to fork’ experience.”
The milk, which is sold plain or as milkshakes in a variety of flavours, comes from Mynydd Mostyn’s 280-strong herd of Jersey-cross cattle. Other products including ice-cream also come from local producers.
One of the conditions of the planning approval is that landscaping be carried out, and in a formal letter of approval an official states: “Combined with a comprehensive landscaping condition I am satisfied that the development will not have a significant impact.”
A couple of local residents had raised concerns about the volume of traffic and also about anti-social behaviour by youths congregating on the site near the shed.
But in their report officers state: “The retail use is not something evidenced to create anti-social behaviour and therefore this would be a matter for the applicant and police to control.”
Elliw said that although the decision had taken a long time they were always confident of success.
“We’d like to thank everyone who supported us,” she said.
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