Holiday park plans submitted near Caersws

Plans have been submitted for a holiday park near Caersws, close to where a crematorium could be built.

Farmer Jack Woosnam has applied to build a proposed Holiday Park Development including infrastructure at Cwmhafren Field, Ael y Bryn, on the B4568 road between Caersws and Aberhafesp.

Plans say the development would be a mixture of caravans and chalets.

In a Design and Access Statement, agent Christopher Wozencraft of Wozencraft Design Services, explained the holiday park development would be for 35 holiday units in total, and also included vehicle access from the B4568 highway and drainage treatment plant.

The site is 3.7miles away from Newtown and just under a mile away from Caersws.

Mr Wozencraft said: “The applicant is married with three children and has decided to invest in a farm diversification project as the farm holding is relatively modest at 70 acres.

“He also runs a small general garden maintenance, fencing, and tree planting business.

“In view of the required maintenance of holiday parks, this proposal represents a logical extension to the maintenance business, while offering the opportunity to provide a viable income stream in the future.”

He explains that holiday developments in Mid Wales have become and “driver” contributing significantly to the local economy.

Mr Wozencraft added: “The site requires little physical intervention in terms of modelling or re-grading.

“Which ensures its natural contours allow the chalets to nestle into the landscape and thereby giving “Cwmhafren Holiday Park” a unique identity particularly in terms of promotion and advertising so important to the success of the venture.”

In July 2020 a pre-application consultation on the proposal took place.

Comments on the proposal were received by Welsh Government environment body, Natural Resources Wales (NRW).

They had concerns about the land drainage and bats.

NRW advised that the applicant should be connected the to the mains sewerage system, or evidence would be needed to “demonstrate that it is not reasonable” to do this.

NRW also suggested that security lights would need to be placed so that it doesn’t affect nearby areas used by bats.

In the pre-application report Mr Wozencraft said that an alternative foul water treatment plant would now be submitted.

He also confirmed that details of where the security lights would be placed would also be submitted, and said there would not be “light spillage” on areas used by bats.

Mr Woosnam also received questions from neighbour and Powys County councillor Gareth Pugh (Dolforwyn – Conservative).

This is where Cllr Pugh’s firm, Powys Crematorium Ltd intends building a Crematorium.

Mr Wozencraft, said: “We received an inquiry from neighbouring landowner, Gareth Pugh, in relation to the consultation process, who requested a  copy of the drainage report.”

The drainage report was not available at the time, but Mr Wozencraft confirms that a copy was sent to Cllr Pugh on October 13.

A decision on the application will be made by Powys planners in the future.