A tiny bit of decking next to one of Wales's top beaches must be removed. A five-year planning dispute about a small area of decking and fencing at a Gower cafe has run its course after a planning inspector ruled it must be taken down. The joint owner of The Lookout cafe, Rhossili, said he was "gutted".
Steve Lancey said he and fellow owner Simon Morris would never have put it up if they realised it was going "to cause such a palaver". Referring to the planning inspector's decision, he said: "We just can't believe it. It's cost us thousands (of pounds) fighting it.
" Mr Lancey said they didn't know they needed planning permission in 2019 when they erected the fencing and the decking, which he said was 58cm high, by the wall separating the cafe from a neighbouring property. READ MORE: One of Wales's most iconic hotels up for sale for first time in nearly 40 years READ MORE: The 'routine' police stop that saw driver abandon van in middle of A55 and cops make discovery They applied to Swansea Council to retain the timber structure but the council turned it down on the grounds of "unneighbourly development" which negatively impacted the neighbour's privacy. The Gower Society objected to the application, saying the work had taken place without consent and claiming that the applicants had shown "scant regard" for the neighbouring property and the appearance of "this iconic village".
Three planning applications, two appeals and an enforcement notice later Mr Lancey and Mr Morris have.
