Powys campsite owners lose £100,000 compensation bid

Gilestone Farm caravan park initially received planning permission in 2005

The owners of caravan park and campsite business, which had to shut after its planning permission was pulled, have failed in a compensation claim against a barrister who advised them.

Geraint and Christine Thomas opened Gilestone Farm in Talybont-on-Usk in the Brecon Beacons in 2005.

But a High Court judge later quashed its planning permission after a judicial review brought by campaigners.

The couple lost the £100,000 claim against their barrister on Friday.

They said experienced planning barrister Ian Albutt gave "negligent" and "over optimistic" advice over their prospects of defeating the claim against them by the Usk valley Conservation Group.

'Very popular'

They also suggested he wrongly advised them they would be entitled to compensation in the event that their permission was quashed.

Mr and Mrs Thomas sought to recover the £100,000 legal costs they incurred plus the "loss of a chance of obtaining an alternative planning permission".

But Mr Justice Morgan threw out their claim at the High Court.

The judge said that the five star facility proved to be "very popular" and had been included in the Daily Telegraph's top 50 camp sites in the UK.

He added it was "controversial" from the start and "upset a large number of people".