SCALED down plans to extend a family run holiday park in West Craven have been refused after one councillor said: 'when in doubt, throw it out'.
Councillors went against officer recommendation to approve the scheme for Lower Greenhill Farm, Kelbrook Road, Salterforth, and instead turned it down, on grounds of its impact on the landscape.
Site owners Nathan and Mandy Hudson had amended the scheme which was refused permission in January for the same reason, and had reduced the number of proposed new touring caravan pitches from 61 to 44, heard the meeting of the West Craven Committee.
They had also submitted a landscaping scheme in an attempt to address previous concerns.
The meeting in Earby also heard from one person who stayed at the site who said members of his family would like to come and stay but couldn't because it was always booked up.
He gave a long list of businesses in the area he and his family supported, including pubs, butchers and hairdressers, and urged councillors to approve the scheme.
The applicant's agent, Ian Swain, also urged approval of the proposals, saying the applicants had reduced the proposed number of pitches by 15 and had moved the pitches closest to Salterforth. The scheme had also been supported by letters and 40 people had added their signatures.
In an officer's report to the committee, it was stated that change of use of land, currently classed as agricultural and engineering operations, would also include the proposed building of a new amenity/shower block.
A new landscaping scheme was described by the council's environment officer as 'well thought out' and that 'once established (would) have the desired effect of breaking up views into and out of the site', although it was acknowledged that 'it will take some time'.
The report concluded: "The proposed extension of the caravan site would constitute sustainable development and subject to necessary conditions is acceptable in terms of visual and landscape impacts, residential amenity, highway safety, impact on ecology and drainage."
But, Councillor David Whipp said the amended scheme was not much different from the earlier proposal that was refused by the committee.
He said he accepted it would benefit tourism, something he was generally in favour of, but people came for the beautiful countryside, not to see a proliferation of the caravan park.
He said: "A caravan site in a valley is not something that will attract people in itself, it will tend to be a blot on the landscape."
Proposed planting to mitigate the impact of the caravans would take time to mature, he added.
In moving refusal of the scheme, on grounds of its impact on the landscape, Cllr Whip said: "The applicants have the opportunity to go to appeal, and we will abide with it (the decision). When in doubt, throw it out, I think there is sufficient doubt because of its impact on the residents of Salterforth and the landscape."
Following the meeting, Nathan Hudson said: "We as a family business are very disappointed with the decision the committee came too and are now considering our way forward."
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