'Park members tainted' - Minister must intervene

4th December 2003

The Welsh Assembly Government must intervene on the Bluestone tourism holiday development", says the national charity the Council for National Parks (CNP) (1) in response to a lawyer's damning conclusion that the County Council members on the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority are tainted because of the Council's financial support for the project.

The Authority's Development Control Committee will meet on 8th December to decide the fate of the Bluestone project (2).

CNP's Head of Policy Ruth Chambers said: "the leading QC's legal advice which has been obtained by the National Park Authority's own internal watchdog presents a compelling set of reasons why Assembly Environment Minister Carwyn Jones AM must act and take this decision out of local hands.  The QC has ruled that the county council members need special dispensation from the standards committee to vote, which only two of them have sought.  The intention of the members who have not applied for a dispensation is unknown.  If they do vote on this application then they would be placing the Authority on a legal knife edge, with a challenge of the decision highly likely".

"The Welsh Assembly Government must intervene and call a public inquiry.  Not to do so would result in a major loss of public confidence in its ability to ensure that the planning system delivers fair and impartial decision making".

Notes to Editors

1.              The Council for National Parks is the national charity that works to protect and enhance the National Parks of England & Wales, and areas that merit National Park status, and promote understanding and quiet enjoyment of them for the benefit of all.

2.              The development within the National Park comprises 340 timber lodges (imported from Estonia), a brand new village, a sports club and a sewage treatment works.

For press queries please contact:
Ruth Chambers, Head of Policy on
020 7924 4077 ext. 222