Sick-mother extension at farm ‘must be razed’
AFARMER who built an extension to house his sick mum during lockdown has been ordered to take it down by national park bosses.
Alun Lewis, from Nasareth, near Caernarfon, had plans in place to build an extension onto his farmhouse.
The initial plan was approved in 2019, but then his 79-year-old mother fell ill after a stroke and was subsequently diagnosed with dementia.
As a result the farmer decided to alter the extension’s initial measurements and design to accommodate her.
But Snowdonia National Park Authority has ordered Mr Lewis to take down the extension as it is not in keeping with the original plans.
Mr Lewis said the farm has been in his family for three generations and he has managed it for 25 years.
“We had approval for our initial planning application but then our circumstances changed,” he told the Daily Post.
“My mum was in a vulnerable and fragile state, and with the Covid situation it became apparent that not only would she need 24-hour care but that she would need to live with us sooner rather than later for her own safety.
“I’ll admit that I had been reckless in this situation by making a bigger extension. By the time they complained about the site, we had completed the extension and we were ready to move in my mum.
“I feel that they have no sympathy towards my situation. It’s a sensitive matter and I feel that they haven’t taken this into account.
“On top of all of this, there has been no communication – at first they were unhappy with the altered measurements and now they are unhappy with the design of the new extension.
“I just don’t know what to do or think. I’m in a difficult situation – my wife is an NHS nurse, my mum is sick and I have five children living here. All I want to do is protect my family during these challenging times.”
In response, the farmer revealed that the neighbouring community has been rallying behind him by signing petitions and sending letters to the park authority urging them to change their minds.
Gwynedd county councillor for Clynnog Owain Williams said: “I’m not happy with this situation. I fully understand the complexity behind the planning and so does Alun.
“He has even admitted where he has gone wrong here, but yet, can we blame a man for wanting to look after his family in the current situation that we live in?
“Alun was pushed to a corner and had to prioritise his mum’s situation first and foremost. He needed to provide a safe and practical place for her. Of course, he should have gone through those planning permission applications once again, but they take time, and Alun didn’t have the time.
“Everyone is doing their bit to protect the people they love and Alun is no different. The park should take his side on this, not cause further grief.
“If things get worse, we could lose a Welsh family from a Welsh community, and we all know where that could lead – another house used as a second home.
“This is how it all starts. No slogan or protest can help the situation, we need to take appropriate actions to protect this family.
“We fully understand that it is a complex issue but they must reconsider their response.”
However, Snowdonia National Park has insisted that the unauthorised extension to the property is significantly larger, does not comply with the policies of the development plan and must be addressed.
A spokesman said: “Planning officers visited the site in February 2019 as building work was under way on an unauthorised extension to the property, which has now been completed. Planning permission was granted in 2012 for a two-storey extension, however, the extension that was constructed is significantly larger in scale, of a different design and is almost one and a half times more than the original dwelling.
“Officers have communicated clearly and regularly with the applicant and the agent throughout. Advice has been clear from the outset that the size and design of the extension did not comply with the policies of the development plan.
“Mr Lewis was also informed whilst the site was under construction that the works were unauthorised. This advice was ignored.
“The authority gave full consideration to the personal circumstances of Mr Lewis’ family, and has no objection to the principle of providing an extension to achieve family and wider care needs, and are confident a suitably designed extension would be granted planning permission.
“However, the circumstances were not considered to justify an extension at the size and of the design of the one that has been built.”