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Plans for luxury retreat – complete with ‘eco-hot-tub on stilts’ – sparks opposition in ancient Anglesey village

24 Mar 2023 3 minute read
Deer Park at Penmon. Photo by John M is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Dale Spridgeon, local democracy reporter

A bid to build a luxury retreat, complete with an “eco-hot-tub on stilts” and offering “yoga, and mindfulness” has disturbed the peace of neighbours in an ancient Anglesey village. Despite “wellness at its heart” the Hafan Ceirw project in Penmon village has already raised the blood pressure of locals who object to the development.

About 20 people shared objections at a recent Llangoed and Penmon community council meeting. The meeting was held after Anglesey County Council received a full application for the demolition of an existing garage and erection of a new holiday unit next to a property called Rossa.

The application for the two bedroom site was submitted by Mairead Turner through agent Toby Wallis. Ms Turner is an interior designer, who lives at Rossa with Dylan’s restaurateur husband Robin Hodgson.

Their “island paradise home” was the subject of an article in the Guardian. The “interior and exterior finishes, design and approach of Hafan Ceirw will be similarly marketed to gain national coverage,” the application said.

But the “style will be completely different to Rossa”. The build is planned on a small plot, beside the medieval deer park and its ancient wall, over which a footpath leads to Penmon Point.

Holy well

The ancient village is known for its priory, church, dovecot and St Seirol’s holy well, reputed to have healing properties.

Hafan Ceirw would be a “high end luxurious retreat,” the application stated: “A place where tourists can access a quiet corner of the island with breathtaking wild views and walks on their doorstep,” it added.

But objectors say there were already too many holiday homes in the area. Geraldine Hedderick who runs Gwyndaf, a B&B and holiday cottage opposite the build site, spoke for objectors at the meeting.

Residents’ concerns ranged from increased traffic on the narrow road, its visual appearance being “out of keeping” with local property, the house and hot tub overlooking homes, noise and privacy issues, parking, sewerage and taking trade from existing holiday let businesses.

“Almost everyone in the village is against these plans. It is unnecessary, they say there’s is no quality accommodation in the area, we were 10 out of 10 on booking-com,” she said.

“The plans say there is no accessible accommodation here, also not true. It is not a case of ‘not in my back yard,’ but holiday lets are down on bookings, we help each other, a lot of people really need their businesses.

“It is also on a small plot, there’s no room, it is by the deer park wall, and the hot tub sits on stilts. It is totally out of character, we’re a quiet peaceful hamlet, we don’t want people in an elevated hot-tub, lights on at night, looking down, possibly with music playing.

“We worry about light pollution particularly over the deer park and an air source pump would face our cottage creating noise.

“The roads are not good, there’s not the infrastructure, and there are sewerage issues.”

“Hardly anyone knew about the plans, but I urge everyone to speak up, when it comes to the Anglesey planning meeting.”

One objector added: “There must be 50 percent of properties already holiday lets, it’s has gone crazy here. There are too many.”

Another added the house “looks horrible out of keeping with the village. This plan has definitely stressed a lot of people out.”


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Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
1 year ago

What lovely a view, shame to spoil further, what is in fact, the reason people come here, money spoils the view as much as it spoils anything. Just ask Longshanks…

Rhosddu
Rhosddu
1 year ago

This is the exploitation of the Bro Gymraeg in a nutshell. The area is looked at as nothing more than an economic resource. If anyone thinks that such a development as this will benefit the local community, they’re not being honest with themselves.

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