Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

A Carmarthenshire landowner has been prosecuted for failing to take down stable blocks built without planning permission at Golden Grove in the Tywi Valley. Richard Booth, of Pantyfedwen, Cwmgors, pleaded guilty at Carmarthen Magistrates Court to an offence contrary to Section 179 of the Town and Country Planning Act. The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council. The court was told that Mr Booth was served with a planning enforcement notice in August 2011 to remove a number of unauthorised stable blocks he had erected without planning permission on land he owns at Penrhiw, Golden Grove. He was also required to revert the land usage back to an agricultural use from its unauthorised equine use. As he did not adhere to this request he was fined £1000 and £741.60 costs in May 2012. Mr Booth was then requested to adhere to the enforcement notice requirements again, but he did not. This month he was again fined £650 for not complying with the enforcement notice and was or...

Gelli Aur (Golden Grove) Country Park owners are planning for a golden new future. This involves the provision of a high class art gallery along with extensive renovation of the park’s built environment. To enable these works half of the park’s 37-acres is closing to the public to allow for a start on the new developments. Twenty acres will remain open and the park expected to attract its usual large numbers of visitors over the Easter holiday weekend. Carmarthenshire County Council have been managing the estate under lease terms and have continued to do so in partnership with Golden Grove Trust which acquired the estate, buildings and Country Park in September, 2011. The Trust have long-term restoration, renovation and conservation plans which are under way. These will include: Restoration of the built environment; public access to art gallery and renovation of the historic landscape. Because of health and safety issues and security and insurance measures faced by the Trust while this...