A Powys County Councillor has hit back at calls for his resignation after a dispute over planning for a caravan site boiled over.

Cllr David Price, who represents Llanafanfawr and is also the High Sheriff of Powys, has been involved in a row over a caravan and camping site on his family business at Noyadd Farm near Builth Wells.

Last month Cllr Price successfully applied to Powys County Council's(PCC) planning committee, of which he is a member, for a certificate of lawfulness for a camping site which he claims was established by his parents during the 1950s. Cllr Price was not present at the meeting while it was being considered.

Cllr Elwyn Vaughan, Glantwymyn councillor and leader of the Plaid Cymru group at PCC had called for Cllr Price to "do the honourable thing and resign" over the issue in a statement earlier this week, saying his membership of the planning committee makes a "mockery" of the council.

But Cllr Price broke his silence on the issue this week with a statement issued to the County Times, describing Cllr Vaughan's comments as "misleading".

"I feel I must take the unusual position in having to respond via the press to highlight the many inaccuracies in press coverage [in another newspaper], based upon misleading comments made by Cllr Elwyn Vaughan.

"The touring caravan and camping site on our farm was established by my late parents before I was even born, probably during the 1950’s. It is a five Caravan and Motor Home Club certified location, exempt from planning regulations. A five van limit was more than sufficient for our site apart from the Royal Welsh Show week, when we used further exemptions, including the ’28 day rule’, especially in relation to campers."

Cllr Price said the site has now been licensed and inspected by PCC, and that business rates have always been paid through the farm's accounts.

"Income from [the caravan site] is declared through our farm accounts, and to our knowledge has not needed to be registered for separate Business Rates to the farm business," he added.

"We spoke to PCC licensing officers about the possibility of licensing the site, due to the potential to expand the business. For this we would first need Planning Permission, and they recommended a Certificate of Lawfulness due to the historic nature of the site.

"The site was recently licensed with PCC and duly inspected, following which I wrote to PCC Business Rates department to enquire about the question of Business Rates. I await their response.

"The continual harassment has had a detrimental effect on my and my wife’s health, and should this continue we will need to consider what legal or other action we take."