PLANS to extend a caravan park in south Cumbria have been refused by the council.

Westmorland and Furness Council has turned down proposals from J & CA Wilkin to convert agricultural land to a campsite with 60 pitches for tents and caravans on land west of Low Fell Gate Caravan Site off Cartmel Road in Grange.

The decision notice said the proposals would result in ‘encroachment into the open countryside without robust justification’ and adds the proposal would result in ‘unacceptable impacts’ on residential amenity.

The notice added: “The proposal would substantially increase traffic using Cartmel Road, creating conflicts between motorised and vulnerable road users on narrow roads, including pedestrians and cyclists, presenting significant highway safety impacts.”

According to planning documents the existing campsite contains 83 static caravans/lodges and there is a ‘limited supply’ of campsite facilities on the Cartmel Peninsula.

It adds: “The provision of a campsite facility will broaden the range of accommodation in the local area.”

A planning statement outlined economic benefits and said: “In addition to customer spend there will be pitch fees, plus a need for additional staffing to manage the campsite, thereby creating local employment to the further benefit of the local economy.”

A report by planning officers says the plans received 16 letters of objections from neighbouring properties as well as from Grange Over Sands Town Council.

The town council objected due to a ‘lack of evidence of need’ and ‘lack of public transport options’ amongreasons.

The highways team for Westmorland and Furness Council objected to the proposals and commented: “The proposal will substantially increase traffic using Cartmel Road creating conflicts between motorised users and vulnerable road users in a location with narrow roads and lacking pedestrian/cyclist facilities.

“If the developer wishes to remove our objection they will need to detail a revised proposal which should include the design of an appropriate priority junction connecting the site to Cartmel Road, and improvements to the route along Cartmel Road then Allithwaite Road which should include footways and associated lighting on Cartmel Road, road widening improvements, a pedestrian crossing on Allithwaite Road, and improved links between the Public Footpath 526004 and Grange.”

Westmorland and Furness Council refused the application on March 15.