A PETITION to prevent the replacement of an outdoor education centre with a luxury lodge campsite has gained more than 500 signatures.

The Holker Group has submitted a change of use application to close the Humphrey Head Outdoor Centre near Flookburgh and build '18 units of two-part Timber Lodges'.

The lodges are intended to be used for holiday letting, and the Holker Group argues in its application that: "As landowner and landlord, the Holker Group does not have the core skills, competencies or ambition to operate an Outward Bound Centre.

"Nor would it invest in a known financially unviable venture.

The group intend to 'retain the site and repurpose it as a high-quality bespoke holiday park.'

The petition, started by Rich Higham-Thompson, is available to view on change.org, and says: "The centre has hosted the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme, NCS and countless other groups to enable them to benefit from outdoor activities. 

"We need your support to stop Holker Estates from taking away this outdoor opportunity from our children."

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