A hospice for terminally ill children has defeated a millionaire’s plans to build a Butlin’s-style holiday camp next door just weeks after Kate Middleton became a patron.
Ty Hafan Children’s Hospice in Sully, near Cardiff, shut down plans from millionaire funfair owner Henry Danter, 81, who wanted to develop a caravan park for hundreds of visitors.
The 81-year-old, who owns Barry Island Pleasure Park on the Welsh coast, has spent more than £1 million on the 20-acre site next to the hospice.
He wanted to house hundreds of visitors but only received planning permission for storage. He previously posted regular updates on social media saying the park would be filled with ‘palm trees and fountains’.
However, he has now revealed that he is ditching the plans in the face of vociferous opposition from the hospice and its supporters, as well as potential action from the council.
Mr Danter said: ‘It was just stop, stop, stop. We couldn’t do anything. It was ridiculous.’
The hospice’s victory came only weeks after the Princess of Wales visited on a surprise solo engagement for her first royal ‘away day’ since 2023, where she spent time with children, families and staff.
She has become the royal patron for the hospice, following in the footsteps of Princess Diana and King Charles.
Ty Hafan Children’s Hospice (pictured) near Cardiff has defeated a millionaire’s plans to build a Butlin’s-style holiday camp next door
The victory comes just weeks after the Kate Middleton visited the hospice on a surprise solo engagement
Henry Danter, 81, (pictured) spent more than £1 million on the site but revealed he was no longer continuing with his plans
Horrified parents at the hospice had campaigned against the Butlin’s-style scheme to protect the ‘quiet nature’ of the site.
Tracey Withers, whose teenage daughter Izzy died at Ty Hafan from a brain tumour, said: ‘I will fight to my last breath to stop this being destroyed by individuals who have no idea of what actually goes on there every single day.
‘I want people to know what an amazing place it is, where half my heart will always be.’
More than 15,000 people signed a petition started by grieving grandmother Karen Maidment, whose grandson Jayden died when he was only 10 months old.
Ms Maidment wrote: ‘As a family we have experienced first hand the wonderful work Ty Hafan do and how special the beautiful, tranquil grounds are to sit in and reflect on the pain of the journey being gone through – and in some cases the loss of a dear child, as we lost our darling grandson.
She added: ‘I can tell you that the very last thing we would have wanted to hear at that time would be holidaymakers loudly enjoying themselves, screaming, shouting, laughing, or heavy machinery digging and increased traffic noise when your world is ending or ended.’
The hospice, which opened in 1999, was the first dedicated to children in Wales.
Mr Danter said his caravan site would not have disrupted the hospice, even during construction. He said he owns a caravan site near his home in Symonds Yat in England where there is a nearby hospice.
The Princess of Wales’s visit was her first royal ‘away day’ since 2023. She spent time with children, families and staff.
She has become the royal patron for the hospice, following in the footsteps of Princess Diana and King Charles
Mr Danter’s also owns Barry Island Pleasure Park on the Welsh coast
‘We’re an asset to them and we can bring great fortunes to Wales and to businesses in Wales,’ he said.
In September, the funfair owner faced legal action by Vale of Glamorgan Council for digging up ground at the site.
Last January, he was ordered to stop excavation work after he received an enforcement notice.
Lis Burnett, leader of the council, said ‘there have been repeated examples of unauthorised work being carried out.
‘The only conclusion we can draw is that he has a flagrant disregard for his obligations as a landowner and for the impact these works have on the surrounding area.
Mr Danter said: ‘I’m 81 now and my health isn’t brilliant. I’m not really so keen now to pursue it. It’s just been: ‘Stop, stop, stop.’ We can’t do anything there. But we still need more accommodation.’
The fairground boss said he has spent £12million on Barry Island Pleasure Park in a decade.
‘I promised the people of Barry I’d bring the golden days back for them and I believe I’ve achieved that,’ he said.
