A WELL-KNOWN fishing lake which claims to stock Lancashire’s largest carp could be transformed into a leisure park.

Ribble Valley councillors have been recommended to approve a plan by Lodge Inns Ltd to change Pendle View Fisheries in Barrow into a leisure park.

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The proposed plans include 19 lodges, 11 woodland lodges, 10 cabins, a warden’s lodge, two holiday cottages, conversion of an existing office, house and cafe to form a restaurant, a pub and 100 car parking spaces.

These would be developed alongside the creation of ecological wetland and alterations to the pedestrian layout at the site.

The parish council said it would welcome the development as it would provide employment and trade within Barrow.

But whilst not objecting, it raised concerns of the impact of the traffic on the neighbouring A59 and the use of external lighting as the area can be seen from an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wiswell Parish Council was also contacted during consultation and raised concerns about the hours of the operation of the pub and noise and light pollution from it.

A spokesperson on behalf of the applicant in a report to the council said: “The large natural lake will be mainly flanked by generously spaced luxury lakeside lodges.

“The development will create employment for highly-trained chefs, waitresses/waiters and general staff to ensure the successful running of this high-quality establishment.”

Fred Higham, chairman of Ribblesdale Angling Association, said: “It would benefit Ribble Valley having the leisure park there as it would bring in extra tourism and more people to the area.

“It’s not used extensively any more like it used to be so at least the land would be used.”

The present fishery lake was built between 1848 and 1893 and the fishery side of the business has been expanding since 2001.

The proposed plans will be decided by Ribble Valley Borough Council by the Planning and Development Committee on October 15.