‘Reject Bluestone’ plea to Park

November 2003

“Stand firm on National Park protection by rejecting the damaging Bluestone proposals”, is what members of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority are being urged by the national charity the Council for National Parks (CNP) (1).

CNP is writing to all Authority members asking them to put National Park protection at the heart of their decision when they meet (2) to discuss the Bluestone tourism village proposals (3).

CNP’s Head of Policy Ruth Chambers said: “the members of the National Park Authority are bound by law (4) to put National Park protection at the forefront of their decision.  We have taken the unprecedented step of writing to all members to remind them of their legal responsibilities and to ask them to reject the damaging Bluestone proposals”.

“CNP believes that allowing a massive new tourism village in open countryside in the National Park will set an alarming precedent for this and for other National Parks.  We fully agree about the need to improve the economic well being of people living within the National Park but we don’t accept that allowing this large development in such a sensitive location is the best way of achieving this”.

Ruth Chambers concluded: “this is an acid test of the Authority’s commitment to protecting the National Park.  Although the Authority’s members have been placed under huge political pressure to approve the development, we hope that they will stand firm and remember their primary role as guardians of this precious national resource by rejecting the Bluestone proposals“.

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 Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’s Development Control Committee will meet to determine the proposals at a special meeting on 1st December, which will start at 2.15pm at the Queen’s Hall, Narberth.

3.              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.

4.              Sections 61 and 62 of the Environment Act 1995 state that National Park purposes are to conserve and enhance the Park’s natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage and to promote opportunities for the public understanding and enjoyment of the Park’s special qualities.  In cases of conflict, conservation must take precedence.

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