Reject Bluestone, protect parks: plea to judge

22  November 2004  

Tomorrow the national charity the Council for National Parks (CNP) (1) will urge a High Court judge to protect the integrity of the UK's National Parks by rejecting the planning permission for the Bluestone development.

CNP is undertaking an unprecedented (2) legal challenge of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority's decision (3) to grant outline planning permission for the Bluestone development (4) in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park (5).

Ruth Chambers, CNP's Head of Policy, said: "The Council for National Parks has undertaken this unprecedented legal challenge because we believe that the Bluestone development, which would in effect be a new town in unspoilt countryside, is completely inappropriate in a National Park.

"We believe that the National Park Authority has not adequately justified why it went against the strict planning rules which exist to protect National Parks from developments such as Bluestone.  We are also concerned about the role that members of Pembrokeshire County Council played in the National Park Authority's decision to grant outline planning permission".

Ruth Chambers concluded:  "The Bluestone court case is being seen as a key test for the future of all National Parks in the UK.  Many people (8) are worried that if the development were to go ahead in the National Park it would be the first of its kind and as such would set a dangerous precedent.  The high profile of the case across the UK means that many people will be watching the outcome of the hearing with great interest.  This is a fight which CNP is undertaking because of our belief that National Parks ought to be protected for future generations from developments like Bluestone".

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.              CNP was founded in 1936 and has never before sought a judicial review of a National Park Authority's planning decision.  The fact that this is taking place on the Bluestone development is indicative of CNP's serious concerns about the damage that this development would cause to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and the precedent which would be set if the planning permission is not overturned.

3.              The Park Authority's development control committee approved the outline planning application on 28 January 2004.  Because the Bluestone application conflicts with the Authority's own policies, it was advertised as a departure.  The Authority's planning officers had strongly recommended that the application should be refused.

4.              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.  The Bluestone development would constitute the third largest settlement in the National Park after Tenby and Saundersfoot.

5.              The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is one of the fourteen-member National Parks family in the UK (including the Broads and the New Forest) and is designated for the purposes of conserving and enhancing its natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage and for the promotion of opportunities for public understanding and enjoyment of its special qualities.

6.              The High Court hearing will take place in Swansea between 23rd and 25th November where a judge will hear arguments from barristers representing CNP, the National Park Authority and the Bluestone developer.  However the judge is unlikely to issue his decision straight away and will do so at a later date, probably a few weeks after the hearing.

The venue for the hearing is The Swansea Civil Justice Centre (and not at the Crown Court as previously indicated).  The address is as follows:

Caravella House, Quay West, Quay Parade, Swansea, Wales, SA1 1SP

DX: 99740 Swansea 5

Court Manager: Miss M Edwards MBE   

Tel:  01792 510350

Fax: 01792 473520

7.              Copies of CNP's witness statements and legal skeleton are available electronically.

8.              CNP has received many letters of support for its legal action on Bluestone.

Contact: Ruth Chambers, Head of Policy: 020 7924 4077 ext. 222; 07769 676 397

Sylvia Davies, Senior Policy Officer, 02920 450433; 07779 718 244

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