A Cumbrian MP has pledged to keep an eye on controversial plans for a £100 million holiday resort in the county.
ILM Group wants to create the 450-lodge resort at Roanhead Farm, near Askham. It would be built on around 550,000sq m of land and could feature a restaurant, gym, pool and children’s petting farm.
Barrow and Furness MP Simon Fell urged people to register any concerns over the would-be development via the online planning portal of Barrow Borough Council – now Westmorland and Furness Council.
“Without feeding into these processes, any concerns will not be captured and actioned by the planning authority,” he said.
The MP made the comments in a letter to a constituent that was posted to a Facebook group – Save Roanhead from developers – set up in opposition to the holiday resort plan.
It has proved controversial with a petition set up in opposition having generated more than 4,000 signatures and protests being held.
A fundraiser has also been created by Laura Higgs on gofundme.com and has generated around £1,000 so far. The money will be used ‘to gather and distribute vital information’ needed to fight against the proposal.
Mr Fell stressed issues such as highways and environmental impact needed to be addressed to the satisfaction of the local authority in the case of planning applications.
“It is the developer’s job to address all these concerns for the development to be able to move forward, and it is important that due process takes place,” he said.
