A bid for a new car park, information centre and toilet block in a Lake District village have been refused.
The controversial plans for Pooley Bridge were rejected by members of the Lake District National Park Authority’s development control committee, due to concerns over landscape and visual impacts of the proposed development on the area.
It had been recommended for approval by authority officers.
Mr J Heath had applied for permission for a 90-space car park on land next to Eusemere car park.
Authority member Vicky Hughes told the committee she was not convinced it was the right place for the proposed development and raised concerns over the impact of the winter opening hours – 7am to 7pm – on the tranquillity of the area.
Committee member Richard Outhwaite warned the significant increase in the levels of the site would compound any visual impacts.
Mr Outhwaite said: “The landscaping that is proposed is lower than the new levels so I’m not convinced if the trees are retained after five years that they will reduce the visual impact to such an extent it would make it acceptable.”
Committee member Tiffany Hunt said it had been a controversial application but added on balance she supported the proposals.
Ms Hunt said: “I’m certainly struck by the evidence of need, and I think that’s an important point. From the feedback from people in and around Pooley Bridge and the parish council, there is certainly a need for more car parking, the question we’re faced with is this in the right place.”
The applicant’s agent told committee members there were extensive public benefits arising from the proposed development in contributing to resolving the parking issues in the village.
A decision on the proposed car park was previously deferred in June after committee members said they required more information.
This included a re-consultation with the lead local flood authority as well as a bottoming of the management plan around encouraging long-stay parking but also hours of operation and addressing the issue of overnight vehicle occupation.
A management plan submitted by the applicant said no camper vans or motorhomes would be allowed to park overnight.
However the management plan added they would be welcomed and accepted during the day to avoid further traffic in the village before being directed to the nearest suitable overnight facility.
The plans were deferred again in September due to evidence being presented of use of land at the site by badgers which required further survey work.
Following the submission of a badger survey report, Lancashire Badger Group said that the proposed mitigation was excellent and added it had no problem with the application being approved.
Pooley Bridge is described as the gateway to Ullswater, providing extensive lakeside access, a terminal for Ullswater Steamers, numerous shops, eateries, water sports and boating facilities.
The applicant said current parking provision in the village was not sufficient.
The application added: “The applicant has been approached on numerous occasions by local residents and business owners alike, regarding the potential to create additional parking spaces on land in their ownership, to relieve these issues for visitors and locals, and this planning application is a response to their requests.
“The current lack of long stay and short stay parking provision increases traffic movement through the village as visitors wait for a parking space to become available.
“Parking and waiting on pavements, double yellow lines and on verges is a regular occurrence and causes issues to traffic flows within the village.”
The proposed information centre would have provided details of activities and attractions locally the electric vehicle charging bays would have encouraged long stay parking with an average four-hour charge time.
The plans attracted 35 letters of objection, a 222-name petition objecting to the proposal and 18 letters of support.
The petition said: “As I’m sure most of you know, the hospitality venues can barely cope with the current influx of tourists during the summer season.
“Visitors to Pooley Bridge contribute a lot to our livelihood’s and we appreciate this. However, the village is full to capacity during busy periods and these proposed plans would only encourage more people to come and join the never ending queues in our pubs and cafes.”
The planning application was refused yesterday, December 4.
