A ROW has erupted between a destitute builder and the Snowdonia National Park Authority following the renovation of an historic Friog cottage.

Mike Atherton, who has previously owned numerous businesses across Wales, bought the Old Toll House in Friog two years ago at auction for £32,000 and has subsequently invested £90,000 and two years of personal labour to restore the 1840s cottage to its former glory.

However, when the property went onto the market, he says Snowdonia National Park Authority told him he couldn’t sell as he did not have the requisite “listed building consent”.

Mr Atherton told the Cambrian News: ”When I started the rebuild I went through Gwynedd Council who told me everything I was doing was fine.

“I was hiring local builders, buying at local merchants and all the materials I used were sourced from the area.

“After several months, I heard from the Snowdonia National Park Authority who told me that I had to get any planning permissions from them, not Gwynedd Council.

“Next thing I know I’m trying to sell the Old Toll House and I’m being told I can’t do it and that I need listed building consent. I had a buyer lined up for £145,000 but they dropped out.”

Mr Atherton told the Cambrian News he had invested all of his money and time in the project and an inability to sell would “ruin him”.

“I don’t know where to go from here, I’ll go bust and I’ll have nowhere to live with my wife.”

However, the park’s planning officers dispute Mr Atherton’s version of events and say he had not completed work to an agreed standard.

See the full story in this week’s Meirionnydd edition of the Cambrian News