A councillor has criticised plans to expand a South Cumbrian holiday park because roads around it were stretched to breaking point.
Haven want to increase pitches at its Lakeland Leisure Park in Flookburgh from 1,113 to 1,147. But district councillor Fiona Hanlon said the roads were already ill-equipped to deal with the levels of traffic.
She said that drivers queuing to get into the holiday park caused tailbacks, inhibiting people who lived and worked in the community.
Cllr Hanlon, who represents the Grange ward, added: “Our sewers can’t cope, our water pressure can’t cope, the parking can’t cope, the roads can’t cope and the people working in the community can’t cope.”
A spokesman for Haven said the company would remain in dialogue with the local community and the council and seek to address any issues.
“We’re aware of concerns from the local community regarding the planning application for the redevelopment of the touring area at Lakeland holiday park,” said the spokesman.
“The proposed extension to the site will result in a small increase in static pitches and bring in a number of economic benefits for the local area.”
A meeting was held on Monday, organised by Allithwaite and Cartmel and Lower Holker parish councils, at which the plans were discussed.
Cllr Hanlon said 30 people attended and that the room was asked if anyone agreed with the development. She said not a single person put their hand up.
“If the infrastructure was improved and put in place before the development, then perhaps the community wouldn’t be as against the development as they are,” she said.
“This peninsula – the water supply, the road infrastructure, the Victorian pipes, it’s never been altered. But this overdevelopment, this size of overdevelopment, renders them incapable of looking after people.”
She referred to the cumulative effect of multiple planning applications in the area and said the council struggled to refuse planning permission due to potential costs if an appeal was made.
