THE 'jury is out' on whether the Bluestone holiday village should be allowed.

The Council for National Parks (CNP) went head-to-head in the High Court on Friday with the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.

The London-based charity is hoping to persuade the Appeal Court to order the Park Authority to reconsider its decision to grant planning permission for the £60 million development.

It fears that allowing the holiday village will reduce the protection for all national parks in the UK and harm the natural beauty and tranquillity of the area.

Its counsel, David Wolfe, told the court that permission was granted, even though the Park Authority's own officials recommended refusal.

He said the CNP's decision to take the matter to court reflected the seriousness of its concerns about the development and the decision-making process through which it was approved.

The Bluestone development would be the country's third largest national park settlement, and the largest one built since national parks were first designated in the 1950s.

Lawyers representing the Park Authority argued that the approval decision was made on its own facts and would not have wider implications for other national parks. It also took the opportunity to again raise the issue of cost to the authority in responding to the CNP's challenges.

The Appeal Court reserved its decision last week in order to give it in writing at a later date.

After the hearing, the Park Authority said it was very satisfied and remained confident the latest challenge would be dismissed.