Last updated 19:40, Thursday, 12 June 2008

A RESIDENT from Bridgefoot has said that if plans get the go-ahead for 60 holiday cabins at the Melbreak Hotel it would become known as the “log cabin roundabout”.

The hotel, near the A66 Chapel Brow roundabout, applied to Allerdale council to build the cabins with an access road, to add 42 bedrooms and a leisure club with restaurant and function rooms.

At a development panel on Tuesday, councillors voted to defer the application to visit the site.

More than 20 letters opposing the proposals were received by Allerdale council.

Villagers in nearby Bridgefoot fear that excess water produced would overwhelm Lostrigg Beck, which runs through the village, and flood their houses.

Objectors spoke at the meeting about concerns that the proposals w ould increase the possibility of flooding, more cars on the road and ruin the view of the fells.

Ian Elliott, a resident of Bridgefoot, said: “There is no public transport. The customers would have to get there by car and staff will have to travel by car.

“It is a prominent site on a gateway into West Cumbria. Why would you need to add a site of 60 log cabins?

“It would be known as the log cabin roundabout.”

Mr Elliott added that he had seen no files with information about what would happen if the beck and river did flood.

Council planning officer Steve Long said: “We did have a hiccup with the applications. The officer who is dealing with this was sick so no one had access to those files.”

Alan Brown, who has lived at Bridgefoot for 17 years, said that his house was probably at the lowest point of the village, with a beck one side and the River Marron at the bottom of his garden.

In 2006 his house flooded and he feared this would happen again if the development gets the go-ahead.

He said: “I remember that day well. Parts of my house were chest deep in water. I am still cleaning up from that now.”

Stuart Woodhall, agent for the applicant, said that the chance of flooding would be one in 100.

“Ourselves and the clients have spent three years of exhaustive research,” he added.

Also objecting at the meeting was Clifton councillor Heather McIntosh.

She said: “If this development goes ahead, the fells will still be seen, but over these chalets.”

United Utilities originally said it had concerns because foul sewage could not be connected to a public sewer as there was no capacity at Bridgefoot treatment plant.

The Melbreak Hotel has since found an alternative, connecting the sewage waste to another pipeline which both United Utilities and the Environment Agency agree is acceptable.