A COUNCIL has been landed with a bill despite winning a planning appeal.

Following a public inquiry in March, planning inspector Richard Jenkins rejected two appeals by Penrhyn Homes over a proposed 133-house development at Mindale Farm, Meliden, near Prestatyn.

The proposals for the development and for a new access road off the A547 Prestatyn – Rhuddlan road had been turned down by Denbighshire councillors against the advice of their officers.

The inspector upheld the council’s objection on drainage grounds but did not accept the argument that the development would exacerbate traffic problems, especially at the busy junction of Ffordd Penrhwylfa and the A547 in the village centre.

He said that Penrhyn Homes had incurred expense in combating the highway argument although the council had not produced detailed evidence on the issue.

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He said the council had acted unreasonably, and therefore granted the company’s application for partial costs in respect of the highway issues.

“The development would inevitably increase traffic in the vicinity of the Ffordd Penrhwylfa, A547 priority junction,” he said.

“However, I have not seen anything to lead me to conclude that such increases would be unacceptable having regard to the location of the junction in such a built-up area.

“It (the council) made its decision contrary to the advice of its professional officers without there being any reasonable grounds for doing so.

“Moreover, such unreasonable behaviour resulted in unnecessary and wasted expense through the appeals process.”