A GLAMPING site was approved at the former Rhyl Rugby Club, despite concerns about noise and disturbance, wildlife, and farming.
At a Denbighshire meeting this week, the planning committee approved the plans for a change of use of land at the former Rhyl Rugby Club on Waen Road, Rhuddlan.
Mr W Ward of Cynwyd Enterprises sought permission for a change of use of the land and existing club building to form a glamping site.
The plans include the siting of nine glamping pods, the relocation of existing access, and the formation of internal roads and a pathway.
Following the approval, the existing clubhouse will now be renovated externally and internally, providing a bar, lounge, function room, games room, and spa and treatment room, as well as an office.
The building will include an external decking area.
A previous application for the site with holiday lodges was called in by Welsh Government ministers and subsequently refused.
Planning officers had recommended the latest application for refusal due to an “unsustainable location and lack of justification for its development”.
But several councillors argued the case for approving the plans, fearing the site could fall into disrepair and attract anti-social behaviour.
Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts said: “As somebody who has played rugby on these fields and seen thousands of people at certain times walk, drive, and whatever there, there has been no issues.
“What the discussion is here is bringing the fields back into the community, which I think is really important, and then I’m going to push officers a little bit on your reasons for refusing. Public transport is one, access.
“Can you look in the mirror and tell me that every pod application that you’ve approved in Denbighshire, or this committee has, has good public transport? Because I can think of a few that have no public transport, yet we’ve granted them.”
Cllr Hilditch-Roberts added there was a need for this type of accommodation within Denbighshire.
“We have a history and evidence of supporting these applications, and my concern is that if we are not in control of what goes there, what could go there in future will be out of our control, and that’s my big warning to the officers and the committee,” he said.
Cllr Gareth Sandilands added: “The local Scout association used it with hundreds of cars going in there, so I don’t think it being a brand-new site (means that it) is not open to doing things on it.
“We are in a catch-22. If we don’t get people using it and get a future for it, it will go into ruin, and it will get anti-social behaviour, so we can’t allow the status quo to exist as of today. I disagree with the fact that it has to be left as it is.”
But Cllr John Harland said: “I don’t feel the road infrastructure is conducive to a holiday-style development.”
Councillors heard how the council had received several objection letters, citing increased traffic and noise and disturbance, with claims the proposals would damage farming, wildlife, and biodiversity.
Other letters argued the pods would have a harmful impact on the surrounding Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty because of lighting and the visual impact of the pods.
A neighbouring farmer also spoke and said she had fears of increased traffic.
Tremeirchion Cwm and Waen Community Council also objected to the plans on the basis the land “is not a sustainable location and not well placed for public transport”.
But neighbouring Rhuddlan Town Council took a different view, stating: “No objection to the physical development but the council believe it would help support local businesses and the High Street in Rhuddlan by bringing more people into Rhuddlan.”
The planning committee voted 14-5 in favour of granting planning permission.
