Luxury holiday lets plan rejected

County councillors blasted Herefordshire Wildlife Trust as they rejected their plans to create luxury holiday lets on a nature reserve.

More than 80 people objected to their scheme to convert a couple of redundant barns at Tretawdy Nature Reserve in Llangrove near Ross-on-Wye.

The site was bequeathed to the trust by Eileen Cook and it was gifted to them in March last year.

The gift was conditional to the trust managing the site as a nature reserve, as a whole unit, and must not apply any form of pesticide.

But the trust said it wanted to convert the barns, which would house up to eight people, to generate a much needed, sustainable income to invest in conserving the surrounding 27 acres of pastureland and nature enhancement projects.

And council officers supported the scheme saying it was well-designed for a modest holiday use.

But speaking at today’s planning committee meeting, councillor Terry James asked “what on earth Herefordshire Wildlife Trust was doing”.

“The whole reason of the trust, and the support they get, is to try and conserve and enhance the natural environment. This is the complete opposite,” he said.

“The members of the trust need to have a look at what they are doing. It seems to me it is more about jobs for the boys and justifying the trust in itself and its employees.

“I certainly won’t support these proposals.”

Ward councillor Elissa Swinglehurst, who is a member of the trust, called on the committee to reject the scheme.

“We look to the trust to protect and enhance the natural wildlife, the flora and fauna of the county,” she said.

“They are a wholly admirable organisation in so many ways.

“So, it’s ironic that the trust themselves are the applicant here and the planning balance is whether or not the economic gain is worth the environmental cost.”

Llangarron parish councillor Paul Lodge also called on councillors to vote against the scheme.

“The nature reserve is certainly not an established tourist attraction,” he said.

“There are already many small B&Bs in Llangrove and converting these two derelict structures into a luxury home for eight is incompatible with the need of the local area.

“There is no public transport to support this application and all visitors have to come by car.”

James Hitchcock, who spoke for the trust, said they welcomed the positive response from council officers.

He said the plans were for holiday accommodation for families and that stag and hen parties would not be allowed at the site.

“We welcome the conditions to address the objections raised including limitations on the occupants and cars.

“We have followed English Heritage’s best practice advice in the design proposals.

“We believe this is a design of appropriate scale and nature for its location.”

However, councillor Sebastian Bowen proposed rejecting the scheme and this was seconded by coun William Wilding.

“It goes against what should be the ethos of Herefordshire Wildlife Trust and that is rather sad,” he said.

Ten councillors voted to reject the scheme, two voted against and one abstained.