Five campaigners have set up camp in the field

Members of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg - the Welsh Language Society - claim that Ceredigion Council leader, Dai Lloyd Evans, could make a significant personal gain from the county's housing plan for the next 13 years.

In May 2002, a BBC Wales investigation revealed that Cllr Evans owned two fields near Tregaron which have been earmarked for potential development by the authority.

He bought the land a year before the development plan went out to consultation and admitted he knew the value of the farmland would rise if it were developed.

It was quite easy to find the field because it is identified in the Unitary Development Plan Huw Lewis, Welsh Language Society chairman

Cllr Evans has consistently denied he has done anything wrong and said he can defend his actions.

At 2100 BST on Monday, five members of the Welsh Language Society pitched tents on one of Mr Evans' fields at Tregaron which is earmarked for development.

'Community life'

Other members are expected to join the protest on Tuesday, but the activists are refusing to reveal how long they intend to stay.

"It was quite easy to find the field because it is identified in the unitary development plan," said the society's chairman, Huw Lewis, who is one of the protesters taking part.

The society says the action is also part of their ongoing campaign against Ceredigion Council, which aims to build up to 6,500 new homes by 2016.

"Building these houses would totally undermine community life in Ceredigion as well as the prospects of the Welsh language," said Mr Lewis.

Cllr Evans said he hoped the protestors would enjoy themselves

"It is also quite unacceptable that Cllr Evans is in a situation to make such a huge personal gain from the plan," he added.

The local authority has recently started the process of considering objections that were presented to it in November 2002 after the first draft version of the development plan was submitted.

A second draft will be published this autumn.

"The council have to base the plan on local needs which takes into account the high level of in migration that Ceredigion has encountered since the 1980s," said Mr Lewis.

On learning of the protest on his land on Tuesday Cllr Evans said: " I hope they all enjoy themselves there." However, he refused to comment any further.

Police in Lampeter, which covers the Tregaron area, said they had not received any complaints about trespass in the area during the last 24 hours.