Holiday park's growth in Pendle could threaten wildlife
Councillors are being advised preservation orders are needed
The growth of a Lancashire holiday park – close to a picturesque Pendle Hill village – could threaten trees so preservation orders are needed, councillors are being advised.
The Forest of Pendle Holiday Park, near Roughlee, has been highlighted to borough councillors over concerns that its ongoing development means tree preservation orders should be considered.
Roughlee Parish Council has approached Pendle Council, asking for official tree preservations orders be made, according to a report for borough councillors. A number of caravan parks are located around Roughlee and the area is popular with visitors.
The village is part of Lancashire’s Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, renamed a ‘national landcape’ since 2023. National landscapes are seen as important and worthy of protection but do not have the same status as national parks, which have their own planning authorities.
Roughlee is on one southern approach to Pendle Hill and has a river, White Water Hough, running through it. The village has a pub and a statue commemorating Alice Nutter, who was accused and hanged as a Pendle witch in the 1600s. It has also won best-kept village awards.
At the Forest of Pendle Holiday Park, off Pasture Lane, trees around the site include lime, beech, hawthorn, alder, sycamore and spruce, according to a survey by a tree expert for Pendle Council. The front has mostly coniferous trees with some lime. Elsewhere, there is a mixture of native species, according to the survey.
Now, Pendle Council’s Barrowford area committee is to consider the situation at its meeting on Wednesday, November 5.
A report for councillors states: “A request was made by Roughlee Parish Council for a tree preservation order to be placed on the site due to on-going development in proximity to trees. The trees add value to the area’s overall character, support biodiversity and contribute to the environment. A tree evaluation system used to determine suitability for a preservation order found the trees to be suitable for protection.”
Various planning applications for the holiday park have been submitted over the past 15 years or so, according to Pendle Council planning records. These have included alterations to ground levels for additional caravan pitches, landscaping and variations to allow year-round operation of the site.
Councils have a duty to consider conserving habitats and biodiversity in a consistent way with their normal functions, such as policy and decision-making which includes planning and local economic considerations. Conserving bio-diversity can include enhancing, restoring or protecting a population or a habitat, the report adds.
No objections to the making the order have been received, according to the report. Councillors and others will have the opportunity to have their say at the meeting.