A road which will cut through a north Wales garden which inspired the poet RS Thomas has been approved for construction by Gwynedd council.

The controversial road plan, earmarked for land near Rhiw in the far west of the Llyn Peninsula, will pass by the 17th century long-house in the estate of Plas Yn Rhiw, once lived in by RS Thomas.

The decision to approve the road was taken at a planning meeting on Monday evening, although final approval must be given by the Welsh Assembly.

"My parents would turn in their graves."

Gwydion Thomas

The poet, famous for his works about faith, nature, the Welsh countryside and the landscape, lived at Sarn-y-Plas in Rhiw for more than 20 years.

Gwynedd's director of planning, Henry Roberts, said the committee had dealt with a "difficult item" very well.

"They showed a lot of respect for both sides of the argument," he told BBC News Online.

"The committee looked at a number of routes. There was no perfect route - every option looked at had its own problems.

"I'm confident that the committee reached a decision in a proper and mature way."

Approximately 200 metres of the new road will cut through the centre of the woodland, one of the few copses on the Llyn penninsula, according to Mr Roberts.

Antiquity

The poet's son, Gwydion Thomas who lives in Bangkok in Thailand and owns the property, has called on the National Trust to do what it can to save the land.

"The National Trust, in particular, have a responsibility to explain to people 'Look, don't you realise the antiquity and the significance of what you have?'," he said.

Dylan Thomas's shed at Laugharne has been preserved

"My parents would turn in their graves at this type of proposal.

"Can you imagine an application to build a marina at Laugharne, Dylan Thomas's village, being approved?"

He added that he found it unbelievable that people could ignore their cultural heritage.

However, some local people have said they need the road which would replace the old Rhiw road which collapsed in a landslip.

Bob Daimond, director of highways at Gwynedd, said it was the least damaging line through the land.

According to Mr Daimond, the route would have the least effect on the landscape, on the ancient woodland and on the other ecological and environmental aspects.

He said people were very keen to see the route being completed as soon as possible.

RS Thomas was a clergyman for 42 years

"They (people) are very concerned this project might be delayed further if there are significant objections."

But Mr Thomas said he was sure the 'virtue and value' of his late father's garden would be appreciated.

Richard Neale, the National Trust's property manager, the plan has been a very difficult issue for the charity but it supports the road.

But he said the land was unstable and the recent landslip was the third since the trust gained the estate in 1952.

He said the road was "regrettable" but the trust had weighed up all of the environmental considerations and was aware of the community's wishes.

"Having weighed up all the options, we decided to work with Gwynedd Council. This is the least damaging option," he said.

And Mr Neale said the trust hopes to make more of the RS Thomas link in the future.

RS Thomas, who was a Church in Wales vicar, died aged 87 in September 2000.

He wrote more than 1,500 poems over 50 years and is regarded as the best religious poet of his time.

The poet, a self-confessed Welsh republican, said most clergymen disliked being out in the countryside but he relished the opportunity.

He said: "I feel I am more able to be religious and to worship in the countryside than I would in the town."

After his retirement in 1978, RS Thomas lived at Rhiw, close to his last parish of Aberdaron.