PLANS to extend a car park and provide spaces for campervans in the Lake District have been shelved.

Proposals lodged by Whicham Parish Council with the Lake District National Park Authority to extend the car park at Silecroft Beach Car Park by 14 spaces and provide a maximum of five overnight spaces for motorhomes have been withdrawn.

The proposals also contained plans to install three electric vehicle charging points in the car park.

Planning documents state: “Silecroft beach is a popular destination for both locals and visitors to the area and even before construction of the café, on busy days, cars were parked on the road side up to Silecroft village.

“Since the construction of the café this problem has become more frequent and the parish council has received complaints from residents of blocked driveways.”

The application received 13 objections which stated the approach to the seafront would be ‘spoilt’ by a row of campervans.

One commented: “Silecroft beach is a place of significant natural beauty. Parking motorhomes in the proposed location will detrimentally affect the view of the beach upon approach.”

Another commented: “This is not Blackpool. There are plenty of other spaces for them to go.”

Plans said providing overnight legitimate parking facilities for motorhomes/ caravans would reduce the impact of overnight stays in  ‘not suitable’ areas.

The parish council added they were mindful of the existing surrounding vegetation while meeting the needs of the ‘increasing number’ of people wishing to enjoy SIlecroft beach and the surrounding areas.

Previously a planning application for a café on the shorefront was approved in 2020 and according to the design and access statement the café will open in 2024.

The construction of the café has reduced the number of parking spaces on the site from approximately 100 to a capacity of around 67 vehicles.

Silecroft Beach Cafe is part of the Connecting Cumbria’s Hidden Coast Programme, which is led by Cumberland Council and funded by the Coastal Communities Fund and Sellafield Ltd.

 

The planning application was withdrawn on March 27.