MORE than 40,000 people have now signed a petition asking Pembrokeshire County Council to grant retrospective planning to a young couple in Glandwr.

Megan Williams and her partner Charlie Hague started the petition after losing an appeal against an enforcement notice stating their wooden roundhouse must be demolished.

Pembrokeshire County Council issued the enforcement notice in December 2012 because it had been built without planning permission in open countryside and was therefore contrary to the Joint Unitary Development Plan (JUDP).

The future of their self-built eco home now rests on an application for retrospective planning permission, which includes a detailed One Planet Development management plan.

“We are confident that Pembrokeshire County Council will view our retrospective application fairly in line with One Planet Development guidelines,” said Megan.

The couple accept their house was built without planning permission, but maintain there was no other way for them to afford their own home.

Megan said: "I know it's not a possibility for everyone, and our situation here is unique, but if young people are to live and work in the area they need somewhere to live."

Commenting on the petition, Julia Morris, from Fishguard said: “It's a wonderful example of a well thought out home. An example for others to follow.”

The couple have also received support from all over the world on their Facebook page, with many calling their home “a work of art”.

TV presenter and property developer George Clarke has also got involved in the debate, saying on Twitter: “My honest view is that planning should be changed to allow small projects like this... yes they were wrong but the system isn’t right either.”

Councillor Rob Lewis, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Highways and Planning, said: “Planning is a rigorous process with clear guidelines and if it is to be enforced fairly must also be upheld by everyone”.