Extra holiday caravans in Thurstonfield approved despite opposition
Cumberland Council approved it
PLANS to extend a site in the Carlisle area to hold an extra 28 holiday caravans have been approved by Cumberland Council despite complaints from neighbours.
The application was for Bramblebeck Caravan Park in Moor Park, Thurstonfield, and, as well as the extra caravans, it is for landscaping and ancillary works.
The decision to grant planning permission for the change of use for the land was made on Wednesday (July 1) and the decision report concludes: “In overall terms, the principle of development is acceptable and the expansion of the site is supported by relevant policies in the development plan.
“The location, scale and design of the development is appropriate to the character of the area with adequate access/parking achievable and would not lead to an increase in traffic levels beyond the capacity of the surrounding local highway network.
“Any perceived visual impact from public viewpoints would be localised and would not be considered harmful to overall landscape character.
“Given the existing use of the site together with the distance from those residential properties out with the site it is unlikely that the development would have a significant detrimental impact on the living conditions of the occupiers of those properties through intensification of use or unacceptable noise and disturbance, with conditions and site licence terms and conditions helping to minimise these impacts.”
However, one objector raised a number of concerns including: landscaping and visual impact; impact on a nearby site of special scientific interest; as well as the impact of a neighbouring holiday lodge business.
The owners of neighbouring Cumberland Bird of Prey business, which has boundaries next to the proposed development site also wrote to the council to object.
They said that the centre is a conservation charity for the past 33 years and added: “We house birds of prey and provide educational activities for local people and local visitors to the area and are it is highlighted as one of the top tourist attractions in the area.
“Since the original development of the caravan park in 2003, there has been substantial levels of noise pollution from the increase in capacity of the site which is now year-round.
“The noise from cars travelling in and out of the site and from owners’ dogs is having a negative impact on the service we provide. Our birds are anxious around dogs which is evident from them pulling out their feathers and being in a state of anxiety.
“We were given assurances in 2003, and again in 2021, that there would be no dogs on site, but we now understand the site is being marketed as dog friendly.”