THE mother of Manic Street Preacher Nicky Wire sparked a European investigation into how planners approved proposals for a retail park in the band's home town.

The European Commission told Irene Jones, from Park Terrace, Blackwood, the mother of the Manics' bassist and poet Patrick Jones, it was investigating whether Caerphilly Council ignored one of their directives when granting planning permission for a major retail development.

Mrs Jones, a well-known campaigner on environmental issues who battled against the felling of St David's Wood for the Sirhowy Enterprise Way, complained that government advisers, the Countryside Council for Wales, were not given enough time to comment on a planning application for Blackwood retail park before planning permission was granted in August last year.

The site, south of Thorncombe Road, was used for foraging by a number of bat species and otters lived in the river next to the site.

Since planning permission was granted, more than 140 trees have been cut down in preparation for work to begin on the retail complex which is set to bring 110 permanent jobs into the area, along with 200 temporary constriction jobs.

The EC's Director General for the Environment sent a letter to Mrs Jones saying a complaint file had been opened.

He said the commission had raised the complaint with the UK government last October and was still waiting to find out whether the application complied with the European Directive on conservation.

Under the directive, the council should have applied for a licence for the disturbance of any protected species on the site.

Breaching a European Directive could ultimately lead to the UK being taken to the European Court of Justice. And although it would be rare for this to happen, the UK could be fined.

The CCW wrote to the council in September expressing concerns over the authority's handling of the planning application.

In the letter the CCW says it was disappointed it was not given enough time to adequately assess the site.

Mrs Jones said she was glad the investigation was being taken seriously. "I do believe they should have given the CCW more time to complete their investigation,"she said.

Blackwood Councillor Kevin Etheridge agreed. "I am pleased Europe has decided to investigate," he said. "Sadly it will not be able to undo the damage already done."