PLANS for former railway land to be used as a car park for a mountain rescue team in the Lake District have been turned down.

The Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) has refused a planning application from Coniston Mountain Rescue Team to re-use former railway land close to their base on Old Furness Road as a car park.

According to planning documents the proposed car park would be for the sole use of the Coniston Mountain Rescue Team when attending training at the building and during rescues.

The LDNPA said in a decision notice the proposed development would pose a ‘danger’ to highway safety.

The decision notice says: “The proposed development resulting in a multiplicity of accesses onto the public highway, which would be likely to increase the risk and danger and inconvenience to all users of the road.”

The design, access and heritage statement says the capacity of the proposed site is sufficient for six cars if turning within the site is required.

“This serves in addition to the parking provided on and adjacent to the base which can become congested. Whilst a public car park remains opposite the site this can at times be at full capacity and cannot be relied upon for use”, plans add.

The LDNPA refused the application on March 28.