Residents welcome decision to reject plan for 26 static caravans at holiday park

A DECISION to reject plans for 26 static caravans on the perimeter of a large holiday park at a Yorkshire beauty spot has been welcomed by local residents.

East Riding councillors threw out the plans for the caravans at Thornwick Bay Holiday Village at a meeting on Monday on the grounds that it would impact the Flamborough heritage coast, but narrowly voted in favour of allowing another 10 to be put up in the middle of the site.

One of the councillors, Christopher Matthews, said the plans for the 26 caravans were “nibbling away at a national asset”. He added: “Small incremental growth is a threat to a very special area.”

Villager Andrew Barden, a member of Flamborough Residents Association, said afterwards: “I think it is good news for all parties that we stop and think about how we do business and about how we protect and enhance the heritage coast. The 26 clearly extend beyond the massing of the caravans onto the heritage coast, and that was unacceptable.

“I think they are now waking up to the value of the heritage coast designation. I think the protection of Flamborough Head was strong, but it weakened and it is now coming back to something that people feel should be preserved.”

Haven Holidays, which invested £10m into the site two years ago, was unavailable for comment. The park has 1,150 static caravans and 250 touring pitches, and in peak season employs up to 250 staff, making it one of the largest private employers in the area. There were 114 objections to the 26-caravan proposal, while 98 people were against the second 10-caravan proposal.