CONTROVERSIAL plans to extend a holiday leisure park in Ribble Valley are to be decided on next week.

Park Leisure 2000 Ltd wants to extend Ribble Valley Country and Leisure Park in Paythorne by adding 30 static caravans to the site along with the creation of a children’s play area and two new ponds.

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The development in Settle Lane would include extending the leisure park into an adjoining field, owned by the applicant.

The site currently has 290 lodge and caravan pitches and the proposed additions would break a condition of a previous planning application, which stated that the total number of caravans should not exceed 295 and no caravans should be built on land surrounding the sewage treatment plan on the adjacent field.

Paythorne and Newsholme Parish Council said they strongly object to the proposed plans on the grounds that the extension would go against the previous condition and the amount of light pollution from the site.

The plans also include the planting of hedgerows, belts of native trees and shrubs to help screen the development.

In a letter to Ribble Valley Council, Stella Rosthorne, clerk to the parish council, said the caravan park is being used as a permanent residence even though a condition stated the park should only be used as a holiday spot.

She said: “In future years their “holiday home” will deteriorate to a position where they can no longer reside there.

“Most of them will have used the proceeds of the sale of their house and their savings to purchase said holiday home.

“When they become homeless the council will be obliged to re-house them, this will put further strain on an already tightening budget.

“The only persons who will truly benefit from an increase in the caravan site are the site owners themselves who have no consideration for the community.”

Eight letters from residents were received by the council objecting to the plans which said the development is disproportionate in size and it would harm local wildlife including hedgehogs and barn owls.

A spokesman for Park Leisure said: “We have conducted an ecology survey and landscape survey. The ecology survey has shown that there will be no adverse impact and we will be providing further structured landscaping which will enhance ecology and habitat. This landscaping will be using native species, which follows local planning policy. With regard to the local economy, there will be significant annual spend from the customers who choose to buy a holiday home in the local area, benefiting businesses.”

A decision will be made on December 17.