PLANS to convert old council offices into a ‘huge holiday home’ in the centre of Dolgellau have been given the go-ahead on appeal.

Applicant Mark Sanders, who runs a company called ‘Huge Holiday Homes’, approached the Snowdonia National Park last year with a plan to renovate the former council offices on Lombard Street into a holiday accommodation facility for family reunions and social get togethers.

The plan upset some local residents, with the planning committee receiving nine letters objecting to the proposal and a petition signed by 25 people worried about a lack of parking facilities and potential noise and disturbance issues by large groups, such as stag and hen parties.

Dolgellau Town Council also objected on grounds of increase in movements and associated problems along the narrow street and said there was no evidence how such a property will be managed day to day.

Betsi Cadwaladr also expressed concerns about access to their clinic behind the old council offices.

Permission was refused in January but has now been granted on appeal.

Read the full story in today’s Meirionnydd edition of the Cambrian News