The National Parks' watchdog, the Council for National Parks (CNP), has blasted the Welsh Assembly Government decision not to call in the controversial Bluestone planning application in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
CNP's head of policy, Ruth Chambers, said: "This decision flies in the face of the Assembly Government's own policy on when it will intervene in planning matters as it meets five of the six criteria which it uses in making its decisions.
"We are deeply disappointed that the Assembly Government has failed to recognise the national issues at stake at Bluestone. In our view, this constitutes a serious error of judgement on its part.
"The minister has concluded that the planning application 'does not involve planning issues which would warrant taking responsibility for determining the application from Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority'.
"Given the serious conflict with policy identified by the authority's own officers and the damage which the development will cause to a very sensitive part of the National Park, and added to the controversy it has generated across Wales, many people must be wondering when the Assembly Government would ever intervene in a planning issue.
"The Assembly Government's failure to act on Bluestone raises fundamental questions about its role and its ability to act in the best interests of the National Parks.
"The Environment Minister, Carwyn Jones AM, and his planning officials should think again, as in our view their decision has effectively relegated the protection of the National Park landscape to the dustbin. National Parks are designated in the interests of the nation as a whole and the Assembly Government has a duty to uphold National Park principles on behalf of the nation.
"On the evidence available, it seems to have attached little weight to this responsibility, which is of major concern."
Ruth Chambers concluded: "Despite this disappointing decision, this is far from the end of the road for Bluestone.
"The next step is the National Park Authority's meeting on January 28, when it will make the final decision on outline planning permission for this development.
"Several concerned parties are considering a challenge in the courts to any planning approval, which allied to the need to obtain detailed planning consents, could mean that any development would be unlikely to start for some time, if ever."