Public access to the leisure facilities at Bluestone will now be allowed, following a ruling by a Welsh Assembly Government Planning Inspector.

Bluestone Leisure Ltd had applied to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority in 2009 to vary a planning (section 106) agreement that specified that only guests staying on the site could use the leisure facilities.

The application to change the conditions was turned down last year by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, fearing the impact that the change of use could have on other Pembrokeshire businesses offering similar services.

Today (Tuesday), a spokesman for the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority commented: "The Authority has now received the Inspector’s decision relating to the appeal lodged by Bluestone Leisure Limited and Bluestone Mansford Estates Limited to make their facilities available to members of the public not staying at the resort.

"We are pleased to see the acknowledgement that the use of an agreement was acceptable in the circumstances and confirming that it served a useful purpose in land use planning terms. We also accept that the Inspector considered that there would be no detriment to the vitality and viability of nearby centres if the main Bluestone facilities were open on a limited basis to members of the public.

"The amended agreement will now enable up to 25 day visitors to use the Spa on Mondays or Fridays. It will also enable the establishment of a club of 450 members who will be able to use the facilities and will allow friends and relatives of guests staying at the resort to also take advantage of these facilities. "The National Park Authority will be working closely with the operators of Bluestone to implement and monitor these new restrictions."