Park watchdog blasts Assembly

16th January 2004

The National Parks' watchdog the Council for National Parks (CNP) (1) has blasted this week's decision by the Welsh Assembly Government not to call in the controversial Bluestone planning application (2) in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

CNP's Head of Policy Ruth Chambers said: "this decision flies in the face of the Assembly Government's own policy on when it will intervene in planning matters as it meets five of the six criteria which it uses in making its decisions (3).  We are deeply disappointed that the Assembly Government has failed to recognise the national issues at stake at Bluestone.  In our view, this constitutes a serious error of judgement on its part.

"The Minister has concluded that the planning application 'does not involve planning issues which would warrant taking responsibility for determining the application from Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority'.  Given the serious conflict with policy identified by the Authority's own officers and the damage which the development will cause to a very sensitive part of the National Park, and added to the controversy it has generated across Wales, many people must be wondering when the Assembly Government would ever intervene in a planning issue.

"The Assembly Government's failure to act on Bluestone raises fundamental questions about its role and its ability to act in the best interests of the National Parks.  The Environment Minister Carwyn Jones AM and his planning officials should think again, as in our view their decision has effectively relegated the protection of the National Park landscape to the dustbin.  National Parks are designated in the interests of the nation as a whole and the Assembly Government has a duty to uphold National Park principles on behalf of the nation.  On the evidence available, it seems to have attached little weight to this responsibility, which is of major concern".

Ruth Chambers concluded: "Despite this disappointing decision, this is far from the end of the road for Bluestone.  The next step is the National Park Authority's meeting on 28th January (4) when it will make the final decision on outline planning permission for this development.  Several concerned parties are considering a challenge in the courts to any planning approval, which allied to the need to obtain detailed planning consents, could mean that any development would be unlikely to start for some time, if ever".

Notes to Editors

1.       The Council for National Parks is the national charity that works to protect and enhance the National Parks of England and 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 which would be imported from Estonia, a brand new village, a sports club and a sewage treatment works.

3.       The Assembly Government's policy on when it will call in planning applications is set out in paragraph 4.12 of Planning Policy Wales.

4.       The National Park Authority's development control committee met on 8th December 2003 and was minded to approve the outline application.  Because the Bluestone application conflicts with the Authority's own policies, it has been advertised as a departure.  The Authority's development control committee's terms of reference require departure applications to be re-considered after a cooling off period.  This will be done at the Authority's development control committee meeting on 28th January.

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