A GWYNEDD housing association says it will not challenge the Crown Estate after it applied to register the ownership of mines and minerals underneath hundreds of homes.

Letters from the Land Registry started to arrive at a number of homes across Pwllheli and Morfa Nefyn recently, informing residents that the minerals and mining rights beneath their homes belong to the Crown Estate.

Many residents were concerned after receiving the letters with many contacting their local MP, Liz Saville Roberts, to help them.

A spokesperson for Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd said: “We have received letters for our own registered titles, not only in Pwllheli, but in other areas as well. The rights are claimed by Crown Estates.

“Landowners can challenge the registrations if they choose to, but CCG has chosen not to challenge.”

Mrs Saville Roberts has requested an urgent meeting with the Land Registry to discuss the matter.

A spokesperson for the Crown Est­ate said: “Along with many other landowners, the Crown Estate is in the process of registering historical mineral rights with the Land Registry.

“These claims are not new and we would like to reassure local residents that the registration process is in no way an indication of our intent to begin mining, which in any event would require planning permission and the surface owners’ consent.

“It is merely part of a legal process to ensure these historical rights are registered and not lost over time.”

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