A controversial holiday village development capable of accommodating up to 2,000 holidaymakers has been given the green light following a decision by an appeal committee in the House of Lords on Friday (18th).

Work will soon start on the £50million Bluestone Holiday complex near Canaston Bridge in central Pembrokeshire despite protests from local residents, naturalists and countryside lovers worried that the development will establish a troubling precedent, heralding more building works in other legally protected National Parks. Although most of the development is actually outside of the Park designated area, a part of the holiday complex is planned on Park land which sparked the legal controversy.

Legal challenge

Pembrokeshire Council first gave the holiday complex the go-ahead in July 2003, followed by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park who gave planning permission in January 2004. But opposition to the decision by the Park Authority was made by the Council for National Parks (CNP) - a charity that works to protect and enhance the national parks of England and Wales. The CNP claimed the scheme established a precedent which could allow development on protected parkland across the UK.

High Court Judge Justice Jacks ruled in December 2004, after a three-day judicial review, that the decision was lawful. In June this year, at the Court of Appeal in Swansea, Lord Justices Maurice Kay, Latham and Jacob all agreed with Judge Justice Jacks' judgement.

Following the decision in June Ruth Chambers, CNP’s Head of Policy, said: “Allowing the Bluestone holiday village to go ahead has muddied the waters for the public and developers alike. The Court’s ruling has missed an opportunity to clarify the rules governing major developments in the National Parks”.

She added “This judgment is deeply disappointing for everyone who cares about National Park protection and as a result we are considering the possibility of a final appeal to the House of Lords”

The CNP then petitioned the House of Lords, but on Friday, an appeal committee refused a final attempt to overturn the decision, opening the way for the scheme to go ahead.

Special status

National Parks were first set up in the 1950s with special status in law, as a means of controlling commercial development and land management including some farming practices in areas of England and Wales which were home to special geographical features, unique wildlife habitats and archaeological treasures.

Pembrokeshire Coast National park was one of the very first areas given legal protection in 1952.

It is managed by a Parks Authority, staffed by a government appointed Chief Executive along with a member’s panel consisting of county councillors, appointees made by the Welsh National Assembly. The Authority’s own website describes their park as ”.. a spectacular landscape of rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, wooded estuaries and wild inland hills, and a place of sanctuary for wildlife.”

Tens of thousands of visitors annually take to the park for a variety of activities including climbing, canoeing, birding, horse riding, sailing and walking generating millions for the hard pressed local economy. To the list of natural attractions and sporting facilities can now be added the rather doubtful attractions of hot tubs, a snow dome and a sub-tropical water park.

Taxpayers’ money

Part-time Welsh Secretary of State (and ex South African terrorist) Peter Hain, who doubles up as part-time Northern Ireland Secretary was delighted with the Lords decision. and he boasted: "This is magnificent news for Pembrokeshire and for Wales. This will be a world-class tourist attraction which will attract thousands of tourists” he said, adding "it will create hundreds of jobs and bring greater prosperity to this beautiful part of Wales."

Not only is this clear evidence that the Labour regime cares little for Britain’s natural environment and wildlife but to add insult to the protestors comes a revelation that taxpayers’ money is being used to concrete over part of the park! A £16 million gift from public funds has been awarded to assist the development coming from the Assembly Government, the Welsh Development Agency and the Wales Tourist Board.