'Eco-village' backers to appeal

Nine homes and a community hub would be built on woodland

A group behind plans for an eco-village of small holdings made of straw, turf and timber are to appeal after being refused planning for a second time.

Pembrokeshire council rejected the application for nine homes at Glandwr near the Preseli hills.

Opponents said it would "destroy the tranquillity" of the village and the local infrastructure could not cope.

Lammas, the group behind the bid, said planners must "wake-up" and address the "challenges of climate change."

Planners heard there were 119 objections, including opposition from the National Park Authority, but 865 letters of support.

The group's first application was refused last year on similar grounds.

The new application was for nine dwellings and community hub building on 76 acres of woodland built from naturally occurring materials.

Water would have been supplied from a spring, electricity from a hydro-electric generator and fuel from biomass crops.

I have lost confidence in this council's ability to deal with applications of this kind Paul Wimbush , Lammas co-founder

Business plans included cultivating compost worms, growing linen to make flax shawls as well as more traditional fruit and vegetable cultivation.

But Pembrokeshire council's planning officers told the committee it failed to meet the necessary criteria as not all the planned activities and buildings were low-impact.

Glandwr resident Maggie St George Spurrell said: "We feel although quite a lot of things Lammas are advocating are not alien to us they have chosen the site on the basis of availability rather than suitability.

"It's not a good site geographically or climatically and it's not a good site from the point of view of the local infrastructure.

"It would actually destroy the tranquillity of Glandwr because their whole ethos was to bring in lots of tourists and visitors."

Lammas co-founder Paul Wimbush said the group would now appeal to the Welsh Assembly Government.

"I have lost confidence in this council's ability to deal with applications of this kind," he said.

"It's really important that this project takes place for small holders and young farmers, because it would set a precedent that would allow them to work their land within a clear frame work and create a life style that does not cost the earth.

"We are optimistic and confident that at a Welsh Assembly level our report will be given fair and due consideration and we will get a positive planning outcome."