Buddhist shrine row - court threat

Glyn Jones says his wife Ann would have to travel to Birmingham

A row over a Buddhist shrine in a wooden chalet built by a north Wales man for his Thai wife may be taken to a human rights court.

Glyn Jones says he will not give up his fight with Gwynedd council after he was told to tear down the shrine and chalet in Nantlle.

The council says the 30ft chalet that Mr Jones, 47, lives in with his wife Ann and their two daughters breaches planning laws.

He says if he is forced to demolish the house he and his family will be homeless.

Mr Jones claimed the building was initially deemed to be legally acceptable by the council, which he accused of contravening the human rights of himself and his wife.

He built the chalet in the garden of his mother's home after moving there with his family in 2001 to look after her following his father's death.

"If I had to demolish the chalet I would be finished - ruined. Glyn Jones

"I built it because my wife's Thai cooking and her religious belief in burning incense used to give my mother a migraine," said Mr Jones, who has vowed to take his case to the European Court of Human Rights.

"Ann prays every morning and gives the Buddha a food offering and burns incense.

Mr Jones argues that the chalet he built is a legal structure

"The nearest Buddhist temple is in Handsworth in Birmingham which is about four and a half hours away by car and quite a few quids' worth of petrol.

"If I had to demolish the chalet I would be finished - ruined.

"I couldn't afford to do anything and we would be homeless.

Bankruptcy

"I couldn't move back in with my mother because we've got an extra child now since the recent birth of my daughter."

Mr Jones said he faced bankruptcy with a legal bill which could reach as much as £100,000.

His appeal against the council's decision was rejected by Welsh assembly planning inspector and just before Christmas a judge at the High Court in Cardiff refused him the right to appeal.

A spokeswoman for Gwynedd council said: "There is national legislation governing planning issues and it is the local authority's duty to ensure that this legislation is adhered to locally.

"In this instance we had an individual who was clearly in breach of the law and the council took the necessary steps as the locally planning authority.

"We took the necessary action to deal with this very difficult situation.

"The very fact that Mr Jones' appeals to both the National Assembly and High Court were dismissed demonstrate that the council acted correctly and in accordance with the law."