The Court of Appeal has given the green light for the Council for National Parks (CNP) to appeal against the High Court's judgment on the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority's approval of the Bluestone holiday village. This means that the battle to prevent a so-called 'holiday village' from desecrating the Park's countryside is far from over. In granting permission to appeal, the Rt. Hon. Lord Justice Keene recognised that 'the point advanced in the grounds of appeal is properly arguable and raises an issue of considerable importance about the relationship between Section 54A and development plan policies. It should be considered by the full court'. Welcoming the Appeal Court's decision, Ruth Chambers, CNP's head of policy, said: "We are delighted that the Appeal Court has granted permission on the application for appeal which means that our legal challenge has cleared an important hurdle. "In giving CNP leave to appeal, the judge has recognised the importance of the case. "The appeal is a crucial test of whether or not the claim of local economic benefit should be allowed to displace planning policies established to protect National Parks. "We believe that the appeal has a good chance of succeeding and we will present the strongest possible case to the Appeal Court judges." Sylvia Davies, CNP's Welsh affairs officer, added: "This case is crucially important for the Welsh National Parks because it will answer the question on everyone's mind - are National Parks adequately protected by the planning system? "We are greatly encouraged by the support that we have received for our action from local people in Pembrokeshire, as well as from the rest of Wales and elsewhere in the UK. "This reflects the public interest in this case and in the protection of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park." A spokesperson for the National Park, said: "The authority is disappointed that this is to be the subject of yet a further hearing, this time in the Court of Appeal. "As with the successful defence in the High Court, the authority will robustly defend its decision and do its utmost to achieve a final conclusion at the earliest opportunity."
