Last updated 19:40, Thursday, 12 June 2008

WINSCALES residents fear that if a 100-site caravan park is built in the area it will bring litter, noise and disturbance.

Businessman George Campbell already has permission for a 100-bedroom hotel on his land, next to a recently developed horse racing stable, near Oily Johnnies pub.

Mr Campbell now wants a static caravan park instead.

Allerdale councillors met on Tuesday to discuss the plan, which was being recommended for approval by council officers.

A decision was not reached, however, as councillors now want to see the site for themselves.

The council was sent 13 letters of objection and a letter on behalf of 14 residents objecting.

Residents were concerned about the impact on wildlife, farming and flood risk. Objectors also feared the site would encourage gypsies.

Debra Law spoke at Tuesday’s meeting at the Oval Centre, Salterbeck, on behalf of 40 residents.

She claimed that if a caravan park was built on the land instead of a hotel there would be outside barbecues, music and children playing outside.

“Litter, noise and activity cannot be compared to that of a hotel,” she added.

She said that a hotel would have provided more jobs for the community as opposed to two or three jobs at a caravan site.

She argued that farmers in the area would suffer because farm land would be open to thousands of people, which could result in broken fences, dogs and litter.

An agent, speaking on behalf of Mr Campbell, saidthat his client had invested a great deal of time and money into the site.He said: “More people will be spending holidays at home in the future. The local authority wants to take advantage of this and has got to encourage this sort of development for the area.”

He said that the caravan site would pump a £5million into the area over a 36-week season.

He added: “We have no intention of allowing residential use on this site; what I am talking about is people coming on holiday all year round.”

Councillor Allan Caine (Alliance; Harrington) called in the caravan amendment for consideration by Allerdale council’s development panel.He said at the meeting: “I called this in for you to have a good look at it, otherwise it would have gone straight through with the planners and nobody would have had a chance.

“It is up to the residents to have their voice heard in this area.”

Councillor Ian Francis, chairing the meeting, called for councillors to refuse the plans on the grounds that it was out of character to the quiet solitude of the neighbouring village of Hunday.

Out of the 20 councillors, five supported his movement, and it was decided that a site visit would take place.