Geraint Hopkins, chairman of the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, has been refused retrospective planning permission for a chalet he built on land just outside the boundary of the park and has appealed the decision.
Hopkins, an Independent member of Powys County Council, has insisted that his involvement in what has become a long-running planning dispute has not brought the authority into disrepute
He is appealing against the council’s decision not to grant him permission for the chalet, one of several he has built adjacent to his home Beacons Edge at Pontithel, near Brecon.
Last year a planning barrister advised the county council that it could take enforcement action against Mr Hopkins and his wife Shan, who jointly own the property. They were invited to make an application for retrospective planning permission, but in March permission was refused.
The Hopkins have appealed and interested parties had until last week to make representations to a Welsh Government planning inspector.
Hopkins said: ‘I am the chairman of the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority and very proud to be so. I certainly would not have taken up this prestigious position if I thought that I would bring the reputation of the authority into disrepute in any way.’
A spokeswoman for the national park authority said: ‘It would be inappropriate for us to comment on a live planning matter being considered by Powys County Council which is a different planning authority.’
