NATURAL Resources Wales has come under fire after its last-minute objection to plans for an Antony Gormley-type art installation on Borth beach because of fears over the effect it might have on birds.

Planning officers had earlier recommended councillors approve an application from Taliesin artist Robert Davies for a metal cast oak tree to be erected on the beach between Borth and Ynyslas.

But they were forced to put the application on hold after an NRW response was received 30 minutes after the meeting had started stating concerns over nesting ringed plovers close to the proposed location.

Mr Davies, who was invited to speak to the committee, expressed his disbelief that after a year of consultation, the Welsh Government’s environmental body had not come forward earlier with evidence about the birds, which are on the RSPB’s endangered species Red List.

“I was very pleased when the local planning authority recommended approving this project,” Mr Davies, who won plaudits for his film about the railway line between Birmingham and Aberystwyth, entitled ‘Of time and the railway’, told councillors last Wednesday.

“This evidence received this morning — I have been in contact with NRW for a year and then this morning they submit this evidence.

“We had an ornithologist attend the site and he submitted all that evidence. Something has happened. They said they had no opposition as long as there were conditions for maintenance.”

The NRW correspondence, received by e-mail, said it could not support the sculpture unless it was located 600m south of the current location to prevent people unsettling the birds.

Officer Elin Prysor said that, while there was “an element of unfairness” about the NRW intervention, most councillors agreed it would need to come back before the next committee meeting to allow officers to consider the new evidence and come forward with a fresh recommendation.

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