Members of the development control committee for the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) turned down plans from Mr J Heath to build a car park with 90 spaces on land adjacent to Eusemere Car Park in Pooley Bridge.
The proposed car park extension would have accommodated 72 standard car parking bays, six disabled bays and 12 designated electric vehicle charging bays.
The committee refused the application due to concerns over landscape and visual impacts of the proposed development on the area.
LDNPA member Vicky Hughes told the committee she is ‘not convinced this is the right place’ for the proposed development and raised concerns over the impact of the winter opening hours (7.30am to 7pm) on the ‘tranquillity’ of the area.
Committee member Richard Outhwaite warned the ‘significant increase’ in the levels of the site would ‘compound’ any visual impacts.
Mr Outhwaite said: “The landscaping that is proposed is lower than the new levels so I’m not convinced if the trees are retained after five years that they will reduce the visual impact to such an extent it would make it acceptable.”
Committee member Tifffany Hunt said it had been a ‘controversial application’ but added ‘on balance’ she supported the proposals.
Ms Hunt said: “I’m certainly struck by the evidence of need, and I think that’s an important point. From the feedback from people in and around Pooley Bridge and the parish council, there is certainly a need for more car parking, the question we’re faced with is this in the right place.”
The applicant’s agent, Mr D Ransley, told committee members there are ‘extensive public benefits’ arising from the proposed development in contributing to resolving the ‘parking issues’ in the village.
Mr Ransley added: “In conclusion the benefits in contributing to resolving the parking issues of Pooley Bridge outweigh its limited landscape effect and the planning balance weighs in favour of approving the application.”
A decision on the proposed car park was previously deferred in June after committee members said they required more information.
This included a re-consultation with the lead local flood authority as well as a ‘bottoming’ of the management plan around encouraging long-stay parking but also hours of operation and addressing the issue of overnight vehicle occupation.
A management plan submitted by the applicant says no camper vans or motorhomes will be allowed to park overnight.
However the management plan adds they will be welcomed and accepted during the day to avoid further traffic in the village before being directed to the nearest suitable overnight facility.
The plans were deferred again in September due to evidence being presented of use of land at the site by badgers which required further survey work.
Following the submission of a badger survey report, Lancashire Badger Group commented that the proposed mitigation is ‘excellent’ and added they have ‘no problem’ with the application being approved.
Pooley Bridge is described as the gateway to Ullswater, providing extensive lakeside access, a terminal for Ullswater Steamers, numerous shops, eateries, water sports and boating facilities.
Planning documents submitted on behalf of the applicant say the current parking provision in the village is ‘not sufficient’.
The design and access statement says: “The applicant has been approached on numerous occasions by local residents and business owners alike, regarding the potential to create additional parking spaces on land in their ownership, to relieve these issues for visitors and locals, and this planning application is a response to their requests.”
“The current lack of long stay and short stay parking provision increases traffic movement through the village as visitors wait for a parking space to become available.
“Parking and waiting on pavements, double yellow lines and on verges is a regular occurrence and causes issues to traffic flows within the village”, it adds.
The proposed information centre will provide details of activities and attractions locally including details of sustainable modes of transport available and will include secure cycle parking and the provision of cycle hire including E bikes, encouraging the exploration of the area via active travel.
Planning documents say the electric vehicle charging bays will not be fast charging points to encourage long stay parking with an average 4-hour charge time.
According to a report prepared for the committee, at the time the report was produced, there were objection letters from 35 different people, a 222-signature petition of objection and 18 letters of support.
The petition stated: “As I’m sure most of you know, the hospitality venues can barely cope with the current influx of tourists during the summer season.
“Visitors to Pooley Bridge contribute a lot to our livelihood’s and we appreciate this. However, the village is full to capacity during busy periods and these proposed plans would only encourage more people to come and join the never ending queues in our pubs and cafes.”
By Dan Hunt (Local Democracy Reporting Service)
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