A TENBY widow has scored a legal victory over Pembrokeshire National Park planners. And the authority may now be forced to rethink its controversial policy aimed at stopping wealthy incomers buying holiday and retirement homes in the county.

Lynn Delabertouche's husband Keith died two years ago. To enable her to stay in her home - the former Sherbourne Guest House in Sutton Street - she planned to sell the upper floors as two flats.

But shortly after putting them on the market, she was told the apartments must be sold to local people only.

Park planners claimed the sale would undermine their proposed policy to limit new or converted homes to people already living in the area. They want the clause to become part of housing policy when the Joint Unitary Development Plan for Pembrokeshire is adopted, with the aim of regenerating communities and providing affordable homes for locals. 'But their argument was rejected by a National Assembly inspector, who upheld Mrs Delabertouche's appeal against the Park's decision.

Last week, a High Court judge backed the inspector and ruled that the authority was acting unreasonably over its 'prematurity' argument.

Said Mrs Delabertouche: "When I first put the two flats on the market, I didn't know anything about this policy. It was only afterwards it came to light. I have had a buyer for the first floor flat for some time, and I have had interest in the other one too."

The dispute has cost her almost £1,000 in initial solicitors' fees, although the Park Authority was ordered to cover her court costs. She has also lost the interest from the sale of the flat. "It has not been an easy time for me following so close after my husband's death," she admitted.

A Park spokesman said: "A full written decision is still awaited and the authority is unable to comment further until it is received."

MRS Delabertouche's planning consultant, Richard Shepherd, of Western Planning, Pembroke, said: "The National Park has now lost five appeals and this case will have cost them several thousands pounds. I only hope they may have learned their lesson, otherwise they face a string of appeals. The Park is completely out of order to apply this policy before it has become 'law'. I am not sure what they will do now, as this is very much the flagship policy of the National Park."

Pictured: Lynn Delabertouche, who can now sell her two flats at Tenby on the open market. PICTURE: Gareth Davies Photography.