THE Tirychen Farm housing development controversy shows no sign of abating following the news that the Welsh Government will not being callingin the planning application for 289 properties in Penybanc.

What has particularly infuriated protesters is that when an earlier application for 336 homes in Penybanc was refused by Carmarthenshire county council in December 2012, one of the stated reasons was the impact on the Welsh language the development would have. But there is another unsettling issue about the whole Tirychen Farm affair.

When the revised plans were rubber- stamped by county planners, members of the Penybanc Action Group claimed they had been entirely wrong-footed by re-assurances no decision would be taken over the resubmitted proposals.

Protesters voiced fears that the decision was taken solely to avoid Carmarthenshire county council facing a legal challenge.

Council Leader Kevin Madge stepped in, publicly declaring that he would personally look into claims of apparent breaches of procedure.

He said it was his intention to order Carmarthenshire county council’s monitoring officer to investigate the reports.

So as of now we still cannot say whether there were indeed procedural failings concerning a matter of the utmost local importance.

Over to you, Kevin…