A PLANNING application that divided villagers near Brecon has been approved by members of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority’s Planning committee.
The application by Keri and Julie Davies to build “Ysgubor Newydd Centre” was in front of the national park Planning committee on Tuesday, July 15.
The proposal for an amenity building for guests staying at Crai Valley Eco Lodges holiday accommodation was submitted to national park planners five years ago.
The building would provide meeting and conference space for events.
Associated works include 38 car parking spaces and the installation of a private foul drainage system.
Planning officer Lisa Hughes told committee members that 31 objections had been received by the authority.
Nine letters of support for the scheme had also been received.
She recommended that members delegate powers to the director of planning (Gareth Jones) to grant the application with a number of conditions attached.
Chairman of Crai Parish Hall management committee, Peter Burrow spoke against the scheme.
Mr Burrows said: “The hall was built 90 years ago and is in the heart of the community.
“The developers emphasise how they have supported the hall over the years providing bookings for large holiday groups, educational events and farming connect, these be transferred to the new development contrary to their claim that the hall will lose no bookings.
“Our survival depends on our income hence our concern about losing any events to Ysgubor Newydd.”
Chairman of Crai community council, Cllr Graeme Robson said: “This has been the most divisive planning application in the community.”
He believed the noise coming from the building would travel down the valley and affect residents.
Cllr Robson said: “It is a lovely proposal with a nice design but in the entirely wrong place and would further detriment the national park while offering no tangible benefits to the majority of residents or visitors.”
He stressed that the community council was against the application.
Heidi Davies the applicant’s elder sister said the development would allow family members to live in the area rather than be forced to move away.
Ms Davies said: “Crai Valley Eco Lodges was built in 2011 where guests come to enjoy the views, the red kites and dark skies.
“Ysgubor Newydd is the next step in securing a future for me and my brother.
“Our proposal will help us remain competitive in a growing tourism market and support the wider farming business.”
Ms Davies added: “We acknowledged the concerns about Crai hall, we see our proposal as complimentary and not competitive.”
Planning committee chairman (Welsh Government appointed member) Steve Rayner believed the discussion should focus on whether the conditions proposed by planning officers to be imposed on the scheme are “sufficient and adequate” to address the concerns raised by the objectors.
Cllr Huw Williams (Powys) said that the site visit had been “informative.”
Committee member (WG appointee) Julian Steadman after seeing the lay of the land believed the building would “fit into the landscape satisfactorily.”
Mr Steadman said: “If we were to give carte blanche to the development it would have a negative impact on a dark skies valley.”
He believed that the conditions covered this would deal with the situation and could “live” with this.
Mr Steadman added: “I’m most concerned about the noise.
“Cars leaving the premises at 11pm is a major noise issue.”
Ms Hughes said a condition on this states that the development shall not operate outside the hours of 8am to 11pm.
“That’s the whole development not just the building,” said Ms Hughes.
Cllr Peter Baldwin (Blaenau Gwent) proposed the committee support officer recommendations and the meeting moved to a vote which was seconded by (WG appointee) Professor Jon Hunt.
Members voted unanimously to support officer recommendations.
