Plans to increase the number of static caravan pitches at a South Lakeland holiday park are set to go ahead, despite calls from nearby residents who ‘have had enough’.
Lakeland Leisure Park, near Flookburgh, won approval to remove touring pitches at the site from South Lakeland District Council.
It amounts to a reduction in the total number of pitches at the park by 51. But, pre-existing planning permission for 85 hardstanding bases for static caravans means that an increase in the number of pitches of 34 – to 1,147 pitches –is on the horizon.
Grange district councillor Fiona Hanlon, in a representation to the planning committee, spoke against the planned increase.
She described Lakeland Leisure Park as ‘unsustainable’ and said traffic associated with the park caused three-hour tailbacks.
“The community is suffering extreme problems with sewage removal from this site,” she said.
The application was called in by Cartmel councillor Gill Gardner.
Cllr Gardner told the planning committee in a representation that the planned extension of Lakeland Leisure Park ‘clearly impacts massively on the road networks in the peninsula’ and that the park team ‘doesn’t contribute anything to the community’.
“The villagers [of Flookburgh] have had enough,” she said. “The cost to the community far outweighs the benefits.”
Phil Marsden, associate director at planning and development consultancy Lichfields, spoke on behalf of applicant Haven Leisure Limited at the meeting.
He said the cost-of-living crisis was likely to create an increased demand for UK holidays.
“The number of pitches across the site has not increased since 2004,” he said. “This modest increase will enable Haven to continue to invest in the park.”
Mr Marsden said three schools had been contacted to look at allowing children to use the swimming pools at the park.
This was a point of contention for Lower Holker Parish Council in a pre-meeting representation.
The council said past promises had been made by Haven with regard to children using the on-site pool facilities but that nothing had happened.
