The chip shop would be at Llanfaes on the outskirts of Brecon

The office of Welsh assembly Conservative group leader Nick Bourne has also admitted an error after it sent a letter backing the proposal to the authority's chief executive, instead of the planning officer.

Brecon Beacons National Park Authority has ordered that a planning application to convert empty premises at Llanfaes, near Brecon, should be started afresh.

This followed complaints from objectors who were not allowed to state their case at the planning committee meeting in July which approved the application.

We complained to the authority because Mr Parkinson had been invited to state his case to the committee but we weren't Debbie Mansfield, objector

The authority's monitoring officer, Andy Raynor, who advises on procedure and complaints, said he had made his decision to restart the planning process because of an administrative error.

"Shortly after the July meeting we were contacted by objectors to the application who claimed they hadn't been told when the meeting was due to take place," he said.

Twist

"This meant they had no chance to state their case to the planning committee.

"After due consideration I have now decided that the application should be considered afresh."

This is the latest twist in a battle between businessman Ian Parkinson and residents living near the proposed chip shop since the plans were first mooted last November.

"We complained to the authority because Mr Parkinson had been invited to state his case to the committee but we weren't," said objector Debbie Mansfield.

"We are delighted that we will now have the opportunity to state our case to the committee.

Nick Bourne's letter was sent in error to the chief executive

Mr Bourne, a Mid and West Wales assembly member, was unavailable for comment, but his researcher, David McKay, said: "The letter should have been sent to the planning officer rather than the chief executive, it was an administrative error."

Mr McKay said Mr Bourne had decided to support the application because he was concerned at the number of empty business premises in the Brecon area.

The original application was approved by the park authority's planning committee, despite the authority's officers recommending refusal.

They were backed by Powys council highways officers who claimed that the proposal could be dangerous for road users.

"The proposed chip shop is on a very busy main road and we are worried that people will park on both sides of the road which would be dangerous for pedestrians and car users," said Mrs Mansfield.

Mr Parkinson declined to comment.

The application is expected to go before park authority planners in November, who will make the final decision.