A councillor’s bid to install eight camping pods on her land has been turned down.

Members followed the recommendation of planning officers in refusing permission to set up the structures at Plas Yng Ngheidio, Boduan, despite portions of the land already being used for camping purposes.

The proposals, submitted by Cllr Anwen Jane Davies, involved creating a camping site for eight pods which would include an access road and parking spaces, with the 2.4m by 4.38m pods to be occupied between 1 March and 31 October, while remaining out of use for the rest of the year.

An extension would also be made to the existing self-catering room that serves the temporary campsite that already exists on-site.

But while several councillors displayed sympathy with her cause, it was felt the plans in their present form would not be acceptable in regards to planning policy.

Despite the application enjoying the support of Buan Community Council, planning officers raised concern that the applicant had failed to demonstrate whether the existing septic tank has the capacity to serve the eight additional pods.

It was also felt existing policy does not support the establishment of new permanent pods that would be fixed on-site all year round.

Their recommendation also noted that the site is more visible and on a higher level than the existing touring caravan site on the farm and that it was “not considered that the proposal would integrate well with its surroundings.”

Speaking at the meeting in Caernarfon on Monday, Cllr Davies said: “We receive visitors from countries from around the world, many of whom walk along the coastal path, which helps the local economy.

“Whatever happens with Brexit we need to diversify if we are to stay in agriculture.”

She added that it had already been agreed, in principle, that the septic tanks could be emptied more often in order to accommodate the larger capacity.

Cllr Louise Hughes said that she felt “between a rock and a hard place”.

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