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Fears over area's 'urban sprawl' Fears over area's 'urban sprawl'
(about 3 hours later)
A seaside county could be swamped with large-scale housing developments unless urgent action is taken, it is claimed. A seaside county could be swamped with large-scale housing developments unless urgent action is taken, it has been claimed.
Plaid Cymru councillors in Conwy have called a special meeting over fears the lack of a Local Development Plan (LDP) might allow unwanted building.Plaid Cymru councillors in Conwy have called a special meeting over fears the lack of a Local Development Plan (LDP) might allow unwanted building.
They are asking for temporary planning guidance to be issued to control what they say is a chaotic system.They are asking for temporary planning guidance to be issued to control what they say is a chaotic system.
It is thought local people will support their call by demonstrating outside the meeting at 1000 GMT on Monday. About 20 local people demonstrated outside the meeting on Monday morning.
For the sake of our environment, we cannot allow developers to build in effect where they wish Plaid AM Gareth JonesFor the sake of our environment, we cannot allow developers to build in effect where they wish Plaid AM Gareth Jones
Deputy Leader of the Plaid group on Conwy council, Phil Edwards, proposed the motion and said: "We have acted because there is a strong feeling within a number of communities in Conwy that the county is about to be swamped by planning applications for large-scale housing developments which will be difficult to refuse. Phil Edwards, deputy leader of the Plaid group on Conwy council, proposed the motion and said: "We have acted because there is a strong feeling within a number of communities in Conwy that the county is about to be swamped by planning applications for large-scale housing developments which will be difficult to refuse.
"They feel vulnerable to housing developers keen to exploit this apparent weakness in Conwy's planning development policies."They feel vulnerable to housing developers keen to exploit this apparent weakness in Conwy's planning development policies.
"There ought to be some mechanism to help planners gain better control over large-scale planning developments and that is the aim of Plaid's motion.""There ought to be some mechanism to help planners gain better control over large-scale planning developments and that is the aim of Plaid's motion."
Mr Edwards said a new LDP was never drawn up after the county's boundaries changed in 1999.Mr Edwards said a new LDP was never drawn up after the county's boundaries changed in 1999.
'Free for all''Free for all'
He said some parts of Conwy county were covered by the LDP from the old Colwyn Borough Council, other parts used the old Gwynedd Council LDP and some areas were not covered by either plan.He said some parts of Conwy county were covered by the LDP from the old Colwyn Borough Council, other parts used the old Gwynedd Council LDP and some areas were not covered by either plan.
Planning inspectors no longer believe this is adequate, according to Mr Edwards, and a new plan is currently being drawn up.Planning inspectors no longer believe this is adequate, according to Mr Edwards, and a new plan is currently being drawn up.
But he said that might not be completed until 2011 - leaving a "free for all" gap for potential developments.But he said that might not be completed until 2011 - leaving a "free for all" gap for potential developments.
"We have had two large housing estates go up recently," he said."We have had two large housing estates go up recently," he said.
"Conwy County Borough Council have turned them down and then they have gone to appeal and the inspectors have gone against it [the council's decision] as there's no Local Development Plan."Conwy County Borough Council have turned them down and then they have gone to appeal and the inspectors have gone against it [the council's decision] as there's no Local Development Plan.
"Legally, they have to consider planning applications in accordance with the plan, which we don't have.""Legally, they have to consider planning applications in accordance with the plan, which we don't have."
Plaid Assembly Member for Aberconwy, Gareth Jones, added: "For the sake of our environment, we cannot allow developers to build in effect where they wish, regardless of locally-determined planning priorities." Plaid Aberconwy AM Gareth Jones said: "For the sake of our environment, we cannot allow developers to build in effect where they wish, regardless of locally-determined planning priorities."