On the 10th of July, Tom Wilko (full name Thomas Wilkinson) took over (squatted) the site in a bid to refurbish and restore the building and accompanying land. Tom now promotes it as a campsite for like-minded people with free spirits to join him in disconnecting from the real world. Tom hopes to restore the old Corran to its former glory and give it a new lease of life. In addition to this, Tom runs a small business selling Zeolite Detox Sprays.
Tresspassing, Antagonising Behaviour and Safety Concerns
Whilst Tom’s goals may seem idillic and innocent at first glance, there is another side to the story and it comes from the local businesses, farmers and residents in the immediate and surrounding area who claim that they have been plagued by problems since Tom took over the Corran.
It has been reported that the Ministry of Defence visited Tom at the Corran site to speak with him about trespassing on MoD land. Laugharne and Pendine burrows is used by the military as a testing range for artillery and mines. The Corran Hotel site is a mere 623.0 metres (0.4 miles) from the firing range.
Tom displays his rights as a squatter with signs outside the property citing Section 144 of the Law of Property Act 1925, which makes it illegal to enter a building occupied by residents without their permission if they are present to object.
The property is reportedly owned by 12 people including a town councillor for Laugharne. Residents have asked the police, the town council and the site owners to do something about the ongoing situation but it is reported that the owners have shifted the responsibility and made it clear that they were unwilling to pursue any action.
One local businessman said that the building was in a dire state, having been ransacked and partially flooded as a result of negligence from the owners of the land.
In recent days, Tom has organised what he has claimed to be a ‘peaceful camping weekend,’ but residents fear that illicit activities such as drug use, inappropriate noise levels, trespassing on farmland and further acts of mischief and unlawfulness may ensue if things aren’t brought under control soon.
Locals claim that Tom does not have the adequate facilities to accommodate large numbers of people. There are fears over lack of sanitation and safety of holidaymakers in the area especially over the potentially high volumes of traffic coming to and from the site, putting walkers and children in the nearby Nine Acres Caravan and Camping Park at further risk. Many cars have already been witnessed coming to and from the Corran Hotel site where Tom is promoting his business activities.
Squatter’s Social Media Crusade targets Council, Locals, Immigrants and Police
Tom has been active on social media, promoting his site as a place to be at peace from the real world. He called it ‘his dream’ and that he was ‘living it to the fullest.’ But alongside these claims, he has been accused of actively antagonising the local businesses and concerned residents nearby.
Tom targeted the Town Council, accusing it of being a male dominated authority and that it ‘screams freemasonry.’ He further claimed that he had created a ‘township within a township,’ and that you don’t need to be a freemason to ‘learn or to use their tricks.’
Tom likened the serving men and women of the police force to slaves saying that they have been ‘tricked into serving the slave machine instead of the people.’ Which, according to Tom, is why they are not allowed to share or have a political opinion.
He targeted the local community in a post saying that ‘they don’t see or understand the beauty of what I am creating at the Corran site.’ Further to this, he posted insights into the towns and cities where people are viewing his content. He claimed that the 17 people on the list under the ‘Carmarthen’ label were locals watching his Facebook page.
Tom made remarks online about immigration, claiming that if he hadn’t moved into the Corran Hotel, the Town Council would have turned the land into ‘flats for asylum seekers.’
Tom maintains on social media that he is preserving a piece of history and giving it a new lease of life and that when he succeeds in his goals, he would ‘make Robin Hood look like a true story.’
Claims of Defence Systems Installed at Abandoned hotel
One local who wished to remain anonymous told us that ‘medieval’ spear-like poles have been placed on the inside of the Corran building in a bid to ward off potential ‘invaders.’
Carmarthenshire News Online was told that police had been called to the site following reports of theft and that two people were arrested. There were also claims that there were firearms being used for killing rabbits and other wildlife.
Carmarthenshire News Online reached out to Dyfed-Powys Police and the clerk for Laugharne Town Council for comments.
Dyfed-Powys Police have said:
“The Neighbourhood Policing Team in Carmarthen are aware of ongoing issues in relation to people occupying The Corran Resort in Laugharne.
“No offences have been identified so far.
“The local community can be reassured that the situation is being monitored.”
We also reached out to Tom Wilko to provide answers to the numerous allegations against him. He has not responded to our messages.
