COUNCILLORS have gone against their own planning officers’ recommendations to approve an application to convert a caravan on a Llandre farm into holiday accommodation.

The static caravan which has been used by residents of a farm in Llandre for more than 20 years can be converted to holiday accommodation, councillors decided last week.

The caravan at of Pantyperan Farm is in a coastal zone where there has been a long standing embargo on the development of new sites and pitches for tourism accommodation since the 1960s, a report to development control committee states.

Applicant Chris Jones told members of Ceredigion County Council’s development control committee last Wednesday using the caravan as a holiday let would allow diversification of the family farm.

He added he would be happy to clad the caravan so it looked more like a wooden chalet or hut, having been told by planning officers this would be more acceptable.

“There’s been no objections locally for the caravan being converted for holiday use,” said Mr Jones, adding “it can’t be seen from the road, it’s hidden away.”

Cllr Rhodri Evans highlighted policy relating to farm diversification and tourism before supporting Cllr Rowland Rees-Evans’ proposal to go against the officer recommendation of refusal to allow the application and questions were raised about the policy relating to existing caravans rather than new ones.

Local member Cllr Ray Quant had asked for the application to be discussed at committee as the caravan had been in situ for so long there would be no material change to the landscape, adding “I don’t think it will make a single iota of difference” if approved. Cllr Quant also highlighted the need for the family to diversify their farm to keep it going.

The committee voted in favour of granting permission as long as wooden cladding is used.