We’re fuming over plans for glamping huts – ‘notorious’ tourists will ruin our picturesque town… we’ll fight them
HOMEOWNERS are battling against plans for “glamping” holiday huts they fear will ruin their rural community with an invasion of “notorious” tourists.
Neighbours have united in the Welsh village of Llandyrnog over five proposed new “rotunda” buildings in a field beside a disused pub.
They fear the upmarket camping chalets would attract “notorious” British holiday-makers, bringing noise and disruption to the 1,000-population area in North Wales.
But local authority chiefs looked set today to give the plans the thumbs-up, with Denbighshire County Council officers recommending approval at a planning meeting this morning.
Developers say the new timber huts – estimated at a cost of £300,000 to build – would come alongside a reopening of the Kinmel Arms pub as a “high-standard eatery”.
But residents living nearby have fired in letters of complaint ahead of today’s decision on the proposed holiday lets, the Daily Post reported.
Viviane Allinson warned councillors: “The night-time outside activities will include barbecues, drinking, music, and noise without any supervision from the owners – no on-site manager or manager accommodation.
“British holiday-makers are notorious the world over for bad behaviour.”
And the village’s Llandyrnog Community Council submitted a series of objections, including claims the new developments would intrude on neighbours’ privacy.
They also said: “The noise generated would be to an unacceptable level.”
Yet some local residents signalled support for the scheme – and council officers recommended the holiday huts be given permission, so long as the pub were reopened alongside.
The Kinmel Arms has been closed since August 2021.
Village resident Zoe Owen said: “Llandyrnog needs a good food pub. I have two adult sons who would use this pub a lot, if open.
“The round houses are the sort of accommodation I would stay in for a holiday, with a pub within walking distance.”
And Keith Evans suggested: “If the establishment of the five pods will help to make the pub/restaurant financially viable in the long term, this must be a good thing for our community in the current financial climate, where so many rural pubs are closing.”
The developers Addison Design and Development suggested annual benefits to the local economy of £113,880 as well as the creation of new jobs.
The huts would be built on land covering 1.2 hectares.
In a report for today’s planning committee, council officers said: “The proposal has been put forward as a scheme which would go hand in hand with the reopening of the Kinmel Arms Inn which has been closed for some time.
“The holiday accommodation is proposed to complement the proposed high standard eatery/restaurant which is to occupy the pub in the near future.”
The huts, screw-piled into the ground, “would not be unacceptable in this location”, the report said.
Officers added the glamping pods “would enhance the tourism offer in the county, bringing visitors to rural areas and increasing spending in local shops and services”.
But they insisted the pub – “an important local community asset” – should be reopened before the glamping units welcome their first visitors.
Llandyrnog is three miles from Denbigh, a regular holiday haunt for children’s author Beatrix Potter who was inspired by her aunt and uncle’s garden there to write “The Tale Of Peter Rabbit” – later made into films starring James Corden.
Llandyrnog itself has two other existing pubs, as well as the Grade II-listed Church of St. Tyrnog’s.
Denbighshire County Council officials have also recommended a shop in Rhyl be converted into a gallery and music bar, despite complaints from residents.
Other holiday let transformations across the country include an abandoned railway station in Bromyard, North Herefordshire, which a couple have turned into a 1960s-style retreat.
Meanwhile, a Grade II-listed World War Two bunker in Dorset has been given a new lease of life as a luxury holiday home which costs £350 a night.
And a picturesque £1.2million cottage in Brecon Beacons belonging to King Charles could soon be available to renters.
Llwynywermod, in the Welsh village of Myddfai in Carmarthenshire, comes with a Grade II-listed barn attached to the main house.
Prince William took it over after the Queen’s death last year and reportedly wants to let it out as a holiday home.