SAVE 5P PER LITRE OF FUEL: VOUCHER INSIDE
PLANS to build an animal shelter to house alpacas in South Wales have been given the green light.
Caerphilly council’s planning committee has approved the planning application for the two-storey building.
The proposed development includes an outbuilding containing animal stores and stables, a treatment room and space for equipment and storage.
The top floor would be used for storage of equipment and the ground floor for treatment areas and stalls for the alpacas.
Reference is also made in the design and access statement of the planning application to ultimately creating a visitor centre.
But Caerphilly’s planning committee were told this would require a separate application and that the plans submitted were for agricultural use only.
This had been made clear to the applicant, it was said at a meeting.
Owners of Pant-y-Trwyn Farm, a former sheep farm, are behind the plans for Mountain Road in Mynyddislwyn, near Blackwood.
The plans state the farm and new building will be “very isolated” and that measures will be taken to ensure safety and security of the animals at all times.
Cllr Philippa Marsden asked the committee several questions on behalf of residents.
These included questioning where drainage would go, whether trees would be cut down and if measures would be taken to stop any potential spread of Bovine Tuberculosis (TB).
Planning officers gave assurances that deliveries would not cause an issue due to the small scale of the building.
The officer said there was nothing to stop trees being cut down as those in the area were not under protection orders.
It was also said that standard procedures for preventing the spread of TB would be in place.
Two letters of objection were lodged in response to the planning application.
Amongst the concerns raised was the potential impact on footpaths next to the site.
However the application was recommended for approval.
It was said the building has been “well designed” and will conserve the features of the site’s Special Landscape Area.