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| Councillors reject latest Bwlchyllan lake plans | Councillors reject latest Bwlchyllan lake plans |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A farmer has lost the latest twist in a 20-year-long legal battle for planning permission for a large lake. | A farmer has lost the latest twist in a 20-year-long legal battle for planning permission for a large lake. |
| John Rogers built Bwlchyllan lake and embankment near Lampeter in 1991 without permission and Ceredigion council wanted the land restored due to safety fears. | |
| Mr Rogers has been fined twice by magistrates for ignoring an enforcement notice. | Mr Rogers has been fined twice by magistrates for ignoring an enforcement notice. |
| Councillors refused to accept the lake had become part of the landscape. | Councillors refused to accept the lake had become part of the landscape. |
| Following the vote councillors asked officers to put enforcement action in place to require Mr Rogers to remove an embankment which would in effect get rid of the lake. | Following the vote councillors asked officers to put enforcement action in place to require Mr Rogers to remove an embankment which would in effect get rid of the lake. |
| The lake is on sloping land and is about 180m (590ft) long and 80m (262 ft) at its widest point with a depth of 3.7m (12 ft). | The lake is on sloping land and is about 180m (590ft) long and 80m (262 ft) at its widest point with a depth of 3.7m (12 ft). |
| A retrospective planning application was refused in January this year because it again failed to demonstrate that the lake was safe. | A retrospective planning application was refused in January this year because it again failed to demonstrate that the lake was safe. |
| But it has since been deemed "as safe as can reasonably be expected," allowing planners to recommend approval of the plans. | But it has since been deemed "as safe as can reasonably be expected," allowing planners to recommend approval of the plans. |
| Despite the long legal history, councillors were asked to deal with this fresh application on its own merits. | Despite the long legal history, councillors were asked to deal with this fresh application on its own merits. |
| A planning report said the lake has now become part of the natural environment and landscape. | A planning report said the lake has now become part of the natural environment and landscape. |
| "Whether rightly or wrongly the lake has now been in existence since 1991, a period of over 20 years," says the report. | "Whether rightly or wrongly the lake has now been in existence since 1991, a period of over 20 years," says the report. |
| "As a result the site has been given the opportunity to develop naturally so it is surrounded by natural vegetation with reeds along the lake shore and on a small island in the centre of the lake. | "As a result the site has been given the opportunity to develop naturally so it is surrounded by natural vegetation with reeds along the lake shore and on a small island in the centre of the lake. |
| "The embankment is now completely covered with mature vegetation which broadens densely on the lower reaches of the embankment." | "The embankment is now completely covered with mature vegetation which broadens densely on the lower reaches of the embankment." |
| Meanwhile, structural engineers say because the lake and embankment have managed to survive significant flooding over the last 20 years, they should be considered stable. | Meanwhile, structural engineers say because the lake and embankment have managed to survive significant flooding over the last 20 years, they should be considered stable. |
| Councillors have also been told that there may be water voles at the lake and Natural Resources Wales wants an investigation to see if they do live there. | Councillors have also been told that there may be water voles at the lake and Natural Resources Wales wants an investigation to see if they do live there. |
| But opponents are worried that the embankment is not safe and could give way at some point. | But opponents are worried that the embankment is not safe and could give way at some point. |
| Geoffrey Stubberfield, who lives near by, said: "We have concerns that the bank could be well unstable. | Geoffrey Stubberfield, who lives near by, said: "We have concerns that the bank could be well unstable. |
| "Nobody saw how it was built. It's terribly dangerous. If there's a catastrophic collapse, it could mean lives." | "Nobody saw how it was built. It's terribly dangerous. If there's a catastrophic collapse, it could mean lives." |
| And Michael Jones, who also lives close to the lake, added: "There's evidence of weeping from it but it hasn't collapsed." | And Michael Jones, who also lives close to the lake, added: "There's evidence of weeping from it but it hasn't collapsed." |