A CONTROVERSIAL plan to expand a Ribble Valley caravan park has been refused by borough councillors at a planning meeting attended by a Lancashire community protest group.

Twin Ghyll Caravan Park at Paythorne, near Gisburn, was refused permission from Ribble Valley Council to change the use of almost 17 hectares of farmland to create space for an extra 62 caravans.

The proposals included building a sewerage treatment plant and pumping station and carrying out other work at the site. The caravan park currently has a licence for 325 caravans on an existing similar-sized plot.

The applicant behind the plan is Park Leisure 2000 Ltd. It was assisted by the Lichfields planning consultancy in Manchester.

At the borough’s latest planning committee meeting on Thursday, January 6, objectors gathered outside the borough council chamber in Clitheroe as councillors arrived and then watched the committee debate inside.

During the meeting, Simon Pembleton spoke for the applicant in support of the Twin Ghyll expansion plan.

He said Ribble Valley planning officers had originally considered recommending approval. However, the recommendation had been changed to refusal over concerns including the impact of the scheme on the local area’s characteristics. But he urged councillors to approve the scheme, in keeping with the original thinking.

Mr Pembleton said the borough council’s local plan supported the growth of tourism, provided it supported existing jobs and satisfied other considerations, such as landscape and environmental issues.

Regarding concerns about the visual appearance of the expanded caravan park, he said: “We have undertaken tests with visualisations of the plans which show the development cannot be seen from surrounding areas or from Paythorne. The visual impact is considered to be minimal.”

On future traffic levels, he said: “A 20 per cent increase in the number of caravan units is not disproportionate to the existing caravan park and the traffic effects would not be significant.”

Regarding the economic benefits, he added: “This plan would help to protect jobs, create additional employment and boost the local economy. These would be significant benefits measured against the relatively low impact of the extended site. Overall, this plan accords fully with the policies of the local plan and I ask you to approve it.”

Objector Stella Rosthorn, who is the clerk at Newsholme and Paythorne Parish Council, spoke against the plan, wearing a Paythorne campaign T-shirt.

She said: “I speak on behalf of the residents of Paythorne and many owners of caravans at the park. This plan goes against key policies regarding the local economy, community amenity, the landscape and environmental factors. It should be refused. But even if this is refused, the applicant will continue to seek development in a piecemeal fashion.

“This plan would adversely impact amenities in the area. There would be a loss of open spaces. It will not encourage people to walk, cycle or get public transport because the only way to travel there is by car. Expansion of the park is not required to support existing jobs.

“More environmental consideration is needed. How will this contribute to the borough’s targets of reducing its carbon footprint or supporting biodiversity and geodiversity? Historical and environmental issues will not be considered.”

Mrs Rosthorn also told councillors she understood the applicant’s business was for sale. How this week’s planning decision on the caravan site would be received by a potential future owner was unknown, she said.

She also believed another project of work at the caravan park was due to start, which appeared to be separate from the current planning application. She suggested to councillors the overall effect of these activities illustrated the ‘applicant’s attempt to disrupt community cohesion’.

Conservative Coun Richard Sherras agreed with concerns and recommended refusal. He said: “There are several large caravan sites in my ward and there are others elsewhere in the borough. But none are as dominant in the local settlement as this would be.”

Conservative Coun Kevin Horkin also shared the worries and said: “I have rarely seen such a barrage of objections from the community. I think the recommendation to refuse is right.”

More than 60 objections have been received about the plans. Paythorne Parish Council, the Woodland Trust, the Campaign to Protect Rural England and Bowland Game-Fishing Association were among them.

Conservative Coun Stella Brunskill added: “I would like to endorse what has been said tonight. I think refusal is the right decision.”

A vote was taken and the majority of councillors refused the application.