Planners want tree house chopped

The fate of the tree house will now be decided by a Welsh Assembly Government-appointed planning inspector

A father has halted work on a tree house for his seven-year-old daughter Molly after planners ruled it could spoil the view of the open countryside.

Chris Sharples is appealing against the decision made by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.

He said the tree house could barely be seen as it was hidden by leaves but the park said it would set a precedent for further similar developments.

A Welsh Assembly Government inspector will try to get to the root of the row.

Mr Sharples was told to down tools on the tree house in the grounds of his farmhouse at Brynberian in north Pembrokeshire when the park authority became aware of it last year.

At a planning meeting it refused retrospective consent and told him to take it down.

But Mr Sharples, a 46-year-old sculptor, has now formally appealed and the hearing is set to take place next year.

He said he had been at pains to ensure the hexagonal tree house did not damage the ash by using cables to fix it in place, instead of nails.

I have just always seen the tree house as a bit of fun but it is something worth fighting for Chris Sharples

"When I was a boy my dad built me a tree house and I loved it," he said.

"I used to sleep up there in the summer. It was fantastic."

He said despite learning he had unwittingly breached planning rules he believed permission would be granted retrospectively.

"I was very sorry. I just didn't think you needed permission for a tree house so I bent over backwards to make amends," he said.

"I had it all done properly and was apologetic and then they rejected it anyway.

"I have just always seen the tree house as a bit of fun but it is something worth fighting for."

A spokesman for the National Park Authority said: "Planning permission for the retention of a tree house at Tycanol Farm, Brynberian, was refused on January 30.

"It was considered that the tree house would have a detrimental impact on the special landscape character of the National Park especially as the site is located within a registered historic landscape and could set a precedent for further similar developments."