30-chalet scheme refused again

PLANS for a 30 chalet holiday development have been turned down for the second time by councillors on Anglesey.

The plans submitted by Neil Oldham also involved a leisure lake, parking facilities with electric charging point and a play and picnic area at Penmynydd Farm, Caergeiliog.

With similar proposals for the site having been refused by the local authority in 2019 - with the decision upheld in a subsequent appeal - they also included a reception building and creating a new lake on the site just off the A55 expressway.

According to the applicants it would create an “attractive” and “economically beneficial” development on the island, creating between four and five full-time jobs while also boosting the local economy through other roles such as cleaning, site and building maintenance, and other such contracted work.

But despite amending the proposals to meet some of the concerns raised by planners, councillors went with the advice of officers and again rejected plans for the site.

While accepting that the fresh proposals included an on-site shop and cafe as well as bike and canoe hire, island planning officer Dewi Jones stated his belief that these amendments reflected an acceptance by the applicants that the plans were not sustainable in the first place.

“The site continues to be unsustainable and dependent on private vehicles.

“That was true in February 2020 and remains the case to this day and our recommendation is to refuse,” he added.

Llinos Medi, one of the local councillors, said Mr Oldham would have preferred to see visitors use local shops in villages such as Bodedern, thus deciding not to include such on-site facilities in the original application.

She added it was “unfortunate” that the planning inspectorate had decided to base their findings on its proximity to Caergeiliog rather than Bodedern, which offers more facilities and is better linked with a specific walking path.

Talybolion ward councillor, Ken Hughes backed the plans: “There are no planning reasons to refuse and I’d ask you to support these plans.”

But his motion failed to gain enough support, with members going with the recommendation of officers to refuse.