A COMPANY with plans to transform a grade-II listed fort into a military veterans’ retreat says the development will go ahead despite suggestions they would be scrapped.

Camp Valour says it is committed to opening a veteran rehabilitation centre in Hubberston Fort, despite the director of the company standing down and a BBC reporter tweeting the project would be scrapped.

Speaking to the Western Telegraph, Camp Valour's Chief Operations Officer Nicola - who only wanted her first name used - confirmed that the project will be going ahead and they will soon be seeking permission for work to start.

The company said they had initially decided to scrap the plans due to “constant attacks”, which lead to Camp Valour’s director, listed on Companies House as Fabian Sean Lucien Faversham-Pullen, standing down.

Nicola said: “Over the last few days we have been under constant attack from a local paper where they are putting two and two together and making nine.

“Since then we have received personal attacks on our children. The long and the short of it is that us English people, in their words, are taking Welsh school places.”

She added: “Fabian has stood down, we are not announcing yet who will run the company and we won't be making a statement at the moment as it stands.

“From the word go we were only about restoring the building and providing services to the veterans, it’s never been about getting anything from anyone."

Nicola explained the company had planned a report with the BBC about Camp Valour but asked them not to publish it after initially deciding to scrap the project.

They then decided not to scrap the project.

Several blogs have reported that the ex-director, Fabian Faversham-Pullen, has in the past used other names, including Sean Keven Patrick Pullen while registering companies.

Nicola denied these claims, saying that Sean Pullen was Fabian's brother.

She also said claims the brothers had not served in the armed forces were incorrect.

While the company is going to continue with the project, Nicola said they are going to step back from the media because "we are wasting too much time trying to put out fires that aren't real."

Camp Valour aims to be a military-based residential camp for former service men and women, providing safe, secure accommodation to veterans, advice on benefits and housing, access to health services and employment skills, to ease their transition back into non-Forces life.

Last week the Port of Milford Haven, the current owners, agreed to hand over the fort to Camp Valour.
Clare Stowell, director of property and tourism at the Port of Milford Haven, said: "Hubberston Fort in Milford Haven is an incredibly important and wonderful historical monument. 
"We have always firmly believed that a carefully considered plan was needed to ensure it has a suitable, safe and sustainable future and welcomed ideas on how to give it a new lease of life for future generations. 
“The task ahead cannot be underestimated but they have a fantastic vision, a team with the passion and drive needed to make the project happen, and lots of supporters.
"We wish them every success.”