Hotel and spa plan at Shropshire lake beauty spot

Bosses at Dearnford Lake, in Tilstock Road, Whitchurch, hope to turn the popular countryside lake into a thriving tourist attraction with plans that could see a 50-bed hotel built on site overlooking the lake.

Rob Bebbington, manager of Dearnford Lake, said: "It is really exciting. We have had the plans up in the cafe for people to see and we have put them in front of Whitchurch Town Council and all the reaction seems very supportive.

"We are a former gravel pit here and we have managed it and brought it up to the standard it is today so we are now looking forward to taking it to the next chapter.

"But we are not trying to develop around the lake, all the plans are set back from the lake on the side of the bypass leaving the area open for wildlife.

"We don't yet know how many jobs it could create, but we know we are going to be a big employer in Whitchurch."

The news comes after customers at the lake and cafe added their own ideas to the plans including a farmshop and triathlon track, which have both been included in the outline design.

In a planning statement to support the application, bosses said the plans could give a huge boost to the local tourist economy.

It said: "While Dearnford Lake is not a natural mere, it enhances the image of Whitchurch as surrounded by lakes of high environmental value, without putting undue pressure on the meres themselves.

"Dearnford Lake is the perfect 'honeypot' to attract visitors."