The roundhouse was built without planning permission

The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park's planning committee has decided to begin proceedings over the unauthorised roundhouse at Brithdir Mawr, near Newport.

It was built in 1998 without planning permission and retrospective applications have been refused.

The owner of the turf-covered building, Tony Wrench, has had two separate appeals turned down but the house is still standing.

The Welsh Assembly Government has agreed that the building is inappropriate Pembrokeshire National Park spokesman

A spokesman for Pembrokeshire National Park said: "The proceedings will be by way of a prosecution in the magistrates court.

"This has proved necessary due to the failure to remove the roundhouse as required by the park authority's enforcement notice."

The enforcement notice came into effect in September 2002 and required the removal of the roundhouse by 15 March 2003.

Permission from the courts is now needed before the building can be forcibly removed.

"This is the latest stage in a long and involved sequence which began with the discovery of the building, which had been built without planning permission, in 1998," added the spokesman.

Move to Spain

"Two planning appeals have been heard by separate inspectors and the Welsh Assembly Government has agreed that the building is inappropriate."

Mr Wrench and his partner Jane Faith say they will move to Spain to build a similar dwelling if their home is torn down.

The roundhouse was spotted by a plane carrying out a survey of the area for the national park.

Mr Wrench said he is disappointed that the authority has chosen to resort to legal action.

"I'm still reluctant to take it down as I am sure it would be of future use - possibly as some sort of agricultural building," he said.

"If we have to move out then I think we would look at going to Spain.

"I'm still hoping that somehow that can be avoided - there are some instances of magistrates taking a lenient view on planning issues.

"But it has served its purposes and the feedback we get daily from website is very positive.

"I'm disappointed that they have chosen to take this course of action although I'm not surprised.

"It's one of the least noticeable buildings in the whole area."