'Tropical jungle' of wallabies, porcupines and parrots must move after neighbours complain

A man who lives in a log cabin and keeps wallabies, mongooses, porcupines, parrots and other rare birds has been told to move.

James Wale relocated to the rural Carmarthenshire site two years ago, having previously run a rare bird business in Pembrokeshire.

Neighbours said the site sounded like a "tropical jungle", especially at night.

Carmarthenshire Council issued Wale with an enforcement notice alleging he had broken planning rules, but he has been given more time to relocate the animals.

Planning agents representing the bird enthusiast said he wanted to create a "major tourism venture", and that his former business in the grounds of Picton Castle ended because the lease was not renewed.

Wale moved to the 17-acre woodland near Llannon and had hoped to set up an owl garden centre, but scaled back his plans to create a private bird welfare home along with some forestry and farming activities.

As well as the exotic animals, Wale also kept horses, goats, chickens and ducks, according to the enforcement appeal.

Documents said the abandoned venture planned to include "reptile, mongoose and several animal enclosures".

A planning application was then prepared for a smaller-scale venture including about 30 bird and animal enclosures, with Wale not intending to live onsite.

Two enforcement notices were issued by the council last year, one of which was withdrawn, and another sent this year which told him to stop living on the land, remove the cabin and stop keeping non-agricultural birds and animals.

During the subsequent appeal, seven objectors expressed concerns about the changes at the land linked to sanitation, stray animals and unusual noises.

One objector said the noises were "not those of native species".

Another claimed the noise "often sounds like a tropical jungle" which, along with the sound of generators and dog-barking, was "particularly troublesome late at night".

A further comment said the site had become waterlogged, turning a "once beautiful forest" into a "fly-tipping incident".

The person submitted a photo of goats and a Labrador to the council and said they had strayed onto their land.

Llannon councillor Llinos Mai Davies claimed the site adversely affected neighbouring properties and had a negative impact on the character of the area.

Photos of the land were submitted showing the boggy conditions and the woodland access track off the A476.

A planning inspector appointed by Welsh ministers has now dismissed the appeal after seeing the cabin during a visit to the land.

"The appellant keeps a few chickens, ducks and horses on site along with a variety of more unusual animals including eagles, falcons, parrots, hornbills, mongooses, skunks, porcupine and wallaby," they said.

The inspector said there was a minor element of forestry and agricultural activity taking place, but that the main operation was of a "fundamentally different character" and unauthorised.

Wale should be given 12 rather than six months to stop using the land to keep non-agricultural animals, remove the enclosures and restore the site to its original condition, the inspector concluded.

"Given the unusual type and mix of the animals, it may well take more time to find a suitable alternative location," they added.

Wale also has 12 months to stop living on the land, remove the cabin and its associated foul drainage.

His agents told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that a planning application would be drawn up in a bid to keep the birds on site.