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We have called on Mrs Dilys Lowe, the owner of land at Glandwr Cottage, Glanrafon, Llangoed in Anglesey, to stop building a bungalow on registered common land.
Mrs Lowe has planning permission for the bungalow but has been told by Anglesey County Council and others that the work is unlawful unless she obtains the consent from the Welsh Minister for works on common land under the Commons Act 2006.
The diggers move in to destroy the common
Mrs Lowe is apparently ignoring the advice and has sent in the diggers to start laying foundations for her new house.
We have written to Mrs Lowe calling on her to halt the work forthwith.
Says Kate Ashbrook, the society’s general secretary: ‘Common land is an immensely important part of our history and culture, as well as being land where the public has the right to walk. It rightly has special laws protecting it, but Mrs Lowe is apparently flouting them.
‘She has been informed of the law numerous times. We have told Mrs Lowe that unless she stops the work at once and reinstates the common, we shall consider applying to the county court for an order to reinstate the common.
‘If she wishes to build her bungalow on the common she needs to offer land in exchange which can be registered as common and then apply to Welsh Ministers for consent for the land swap.’
Kate continues: ‘We are deeply disappointed at the limp attitude of Anglesey County Council, the commons registration authority. It has powers to take action to defend the common but is not prepared to use them, leaving it to the public to pick up the pieces. We shall continue to urge the council to step up to the mark and defend this precious common land.’