An application seeking to site a temporary mobile catering van close to Pendle Hill in the village of Barley has been turned down by the council.

Dominic Parsons of catering company Strydon Ltd applied to Pendle Council on March 10, seeking approval to pitch a temporary mobile catering trailer and the laying of a natural stone paved area for picnic tables at Boothman Park in Barley New Road.

The application says: “Boothman Park is a woodland environment currently used for commercial leisure and educational purposes.

“This application relates to an area of the site with is currently a gravel hardstanding adjacent to a gravel carpark.

“We wish to use the gravel hardstanding to site a mobile catering trailer every year between April 1 and October 31.

“The application also includes the installation of a natural stone paved area 7.2m x 5.4m for picnic tables.

“The catering trailer will serve snacks, drinks and hot sandwiches to the people visiting Boothman Park.

“The catering trailer will be open Friday to Sunday 9am until 3.30pm.

“The hot drinks and sandwiches will be prepared on site. Waste generated will be removed daily from the site.

“The natural stone paved area will provide seating for people visiting Boothman Park and people using the catering trailer.

“The location of the site is suitably isolated from surrounding properties and dwellings. The noise generated by people using the picnic area will be reduced by surrounding trees.

“The proposed location for the mobile catering trailer has adjacent private parking and will not impact the highway. The site is accessible using an existing private road.”

The plans received a number of objections and a report to the council stated: “The siting of a catering trailer would bring an unnecessary addition to the area of outstanding natural beauty and would harm the visual quality of the area which would be exacerbated by the vehicles that would be attracted to the site to use the facility.

“The development would result in unacceptable harm to the character and scenic beauty of the AONB.”

Other facilities available nearby include the Barley Mow pub, the Pendle Inn and the Cabin, which are all located at the start of the Pendle Hill trail.