Moorland near Rassau, Ebbw Vale, where a motor racing circuit is planned. Photo: Alan Bowring CC-BY-SA-2.0

Campaigners have condemned a u-turn by a Government body on a planned motor-racing circuit on the boundary of a national park.

The Open Spaces Society said it will submit a Freedom of Information request to find out what is behind Natural Resources Wales’s about-turn on a decision on the proposed Circuit of Wales near Ebbw Vale.

The society said the Welsh Government’s advisory body is no longer asking the Government to call in the application which was granted outline consent by Blaenau Gwent Council last month.

It said the development is on common land and abuts the Brecon Beacons national park.

OSS general secretary Kate Ashbrook said: “We cannot understand what has caused NRW to cave in to the developers.

“As far as we can see, nothing has changed. Why could it not reach this agreement before the planning application was submitted?

“This is NRW’s first big test and we fear that it has failed. NRW should be defending this common land, not letting it be smothered it development.

“It should be defending the Brecon Beacons national park, not endorsing industrial spread right on its doorstep.

“We are disappointed that NRW is not prepared to stand up to the developers and the Government and persist with its objection.

Kate Ashbrook: 'puzzling change of heart'. Photo: Andrew McCloy

“Because of this sudden and puzzling change of heart, we are making a Freedom of Information request to both the Welsh Government and NRW to find out what has been happening behind the scenes.

“We trust that the Welsh Government will still decide to call this in, since there are many other objections.”

The Open Spaces Society was among the objectors who wrote to the Minister for Housing and Regeneration, urging him to call the application in because it is of national significance and contravenes national planning policies.

The Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, the Gwent and Brecknock Wildlife Trust and many others also objected, the OSS pointed out.

It said the development has a national impact on the landscape of a national park, but will also have a devastating effect on registered common land.

The society said it considers that the proposal cannot go ahead until suitable exchange-land has been provided and approved by the Welsh Government.

The Heads of the Valleys Development Company, which is behind the plans, said it would provide a world class, unique destination.

It said: “The development will be a major addition amongst Europe’s front-ranking motor sport facilities and will be designed to host international events such as MotoGP, World Superbikes, World Motocross and World Touring Car.”

It added the 336ha (830-acre) site will represent a centre of excellence for UK motor sport and deliver an unrivalled low-carbon international motor sports facility in Wales.