Caravan park plans binned

VILLAGERS are celebrating after a council threw out plans for a proposed caravan park – after dozens of residents objected to the plans.

Developers had hoped to build an amenity building on green belt land off Sutherland Road in Longsdon which would include toilet and shower facilities as part of a plan to develop a touring caravan site on the land.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council received 67 letters of objection to the plan – with residents concerned about the loss of green belt land, the impact on the road network and harm to the ‘rural character and appearance of the area.’

Both Longsdon Parish Council and Cheddleton Town Council also objected to the plans for the structure.

Now the district council has rejected the planning application for the building – which they say is inappropriate.

The planning officer’s report stated development was only allowed on Green Belt land under ‘limited criteria.’

It added: “The criteria does include ‘appropriate facilities’ for outdoor recreation providing the openness of the Green Belt is not harmed. The proposed use of the land as a caravan site can be considered to be an outdoor recreational use.

“The site is not currently a caravan park and the applicant’s agent has informed the council that a licence has been applied for but has not yet been granted.

“There is therefore no evidence or even assurance that the site will definitely become a caravan site.

“Furthermore, even in the event that the site did became a caravan site, I do not consider the proposed building to amount to an “appropriate facility” as the facilities within the building i.e. showers, sinks and toilets, are already present in caravans.

“I therefore consider that the proposed building amounts to inappropriate development in the Green Belt, which by definition would be harmful to its openness.

“Although caravan sites can provide economic benefits, particularly to local tourism, I do not foresee how the amenity block is needed for the caravan site to operate and benefit the proposed business given that such facilities are already on board caravans.

“There have been significant concerns raised by local residents regarding the impact on the local narrow roads if the site was to