Plans to extend Fir View holiday park near Llanfair Caereinion are narrowly approved

At the meeting of the Powys County Council planning committee on Thursday, March 18, councillors discussed plans by Sheeham Holdings to add another 54 static caravans at Fir View Holiday Park, Llangyniew.

They already have 174 static caravans at the site which is near the A495 road that runs from Llynclys past Meifod, and joins the A458 road to the west of Llanfair Caereinion.

The application has been backed by council planning officers, but faced opposition locally with Llangyniew Community Council objecting to the proposal.

At the planning meeting Nigel Jones spoke on behalf of residents in the area that were against the proposal.

He said that the proposals were “not sympathetic to the rural landscape” and “will be visually intrusive.”

In rebuttal agent Geraint Jones, said that the extension would “safeguard existing jobs,” as well as create more employment opportunities.

Councillor Phil Pritchard said: “All round this area is beautiful countryside.

“I think this will be a good way of improving the economy of this rural area as we come out of the pandemic.

“I have confidence in this proposal.”

He moved to recommend approving the application.

But several councillors were struggling to support the application on a number of aspects, including how it would look, and also that the access to and from the site, is in a flood zone.

To the north of holiday park, flows the River Vyrnwy, and to the south the River Banwy.

Councillor Jon Williams said: “It’s hard as we always want to encourage tourism and businesses in our communities.

“The caravans will be on an elevated position which will be seen quite clearly from the road, and I don’t think any amount of planting will do a lot to alleviate that.

“I understand the flood risk concerns, I note the caravans will be sited outside the flood risk boundary, but the access will be wholly within the flooded area.

“It’s good to see that the applicant has thought of an evacuation route, however I have concerns, as the land for that is not in their ownership, how will emergency services vehicles get down that?”

Councillor Jonathan Wilkinson knows the evacuation route “very well.”

Cllr Wilkinson said: “It’s used by mountain bikers, walkers and horse riders,

” I would not be at all comfortable with suggesting an ambulance or fire engine could uses a forestry track if necessary, in what may be a rare event.”

With several speaking against the proposal, councillors were reminded by Councillor Kathryn Silk that if they were to go against officers recommendation, they needed: “solid reasons to refuse.”

Lead planning professional officer Peter Morris said he “wouldn’t be comfortable” with using flooding as a reason to refuse the application.

“If you were minded to refuse this, the landscape one is a reason that could be used, even if as officers we disagree with that,” said Mr Morris.

The vote then took place with nine voting in favour, eight voting against, and one abstention, which means the plans are approved.