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The owners of a farm park near Caerphilly have won permission for longer opening hours, which they say will improve evening attractions like a Christmas lights trail.

Caerphilly County Borough Council planners were less supportive of plans to hold 52 “bespoke” or private events at The Meadows Farm Village Retreat, however.

Applicant Katherine Watkins sought permission to extend the opening hours at the farm beyond what the council’s planning committee agreed in June.

Council planners, in a report, said the extension would reportedly be beneficial to her business, and allow “greater levels of revenue to be generated”.

This would be the case “particularly at times of year such as Halloween and Christmas and allowing operation within hours of darkness would allow the business to take better advantage of their light trail”, the planners explained.

The farm park is home to animals such as alpacas and meerkats, and plans show the lights trail takes visitors alongside reindeer enclosures.

Ms Watkins also requested permission to host a series of events at the farm, with a finishing time of up to 11.30pm.

But this request was later withdrawn after environmental health officers raised concerns about “the potential for noise impacts” on neighbours.

The current planning permission for the site also restricts its use to a farm park facility.

At a meeting, on Wednesday October 9, the council’s planning committee heard the application was instead to generally extend the opening hours of the farm park.

A finish time of 9pm had been requested, but the council was instead minded to bring that forward to 8pm, planning officer Helen Winsall told the committee.

Members agreed unanimously to grant the extension for a “temporary period” of one year, which Ms Winsall said will “allow it to be monitored”.