A local farmer and former Tory parliamentary candidate has won appeals against environmental notices issued by the Welsh Government.

It was alleged that David George, of Dyffryn Farm, Llangoedmor, Cardigan, who stood as a Conservative candidate for Cardiganshire in the 1970 general election, undertook unapproved agricultural work on uncultivated and semi-natural land on his farm.

The farmer did not receive the necessary consent under the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations introduced in 2007.

In the first appeal under the regulations Mr. George challenged a Stop Notice and Remediation Notice issued under the regulations which provide protection to uncultivated/semi-natural land with environmental or historic value. Farmers must apply for EIA screening before proceeding with work.

During the appeals heard by planning inspector David Sheers it was said that the Welsh Government issued a Stop Notice in August last year and when the farmer continued with agricultural activity the Government undertook a full ecological survey of the land, including a habitat report before issuing a Remediation Notice.

Allowing the appeals Mr. Sheers said “Certainly uncultivated and semi-natural land is not a precise or clear-cut category of land and while for the sake of consistency, it is useful to provide guidelines and definitions, their interpretation may vary greatly depending upon the context of the assessment.

“Bearing in mind the type of vegetation on the site and the history of recent farming activity and all the other matters raised, I do not consider that the land can be classified as uncultivated or semi-natural but semi-improved.

”Accordingly the agricultural activities carried out cannot be considered an uncultivated land project within the terms of the Regulations.

“The Stop Notice is therefore in error, a screening decision in not necessary and the notices should be revoked, he added.