Battle to halt holiday park at the Mere in Ellesmere given boost
Campaigners fighting plans for a holiday park next to a beauty spot have received a boost after planning officers said the project should be thrown out.
Planning officers at Shropshire Council said building 20 holiday lodges on Castlefields car park next to the Mere in Ellesmere could have a negative impact on a "sensitive" area. The plans have been opposed by more than 100 members of the public and town councillors.
People living in the area have raised concerns about the loss of the car park hitting tourism and have claimed it would create a "visual blot" on the landscape.
Ellesmere Town Council has raised concerns about the effect the lodges would have on the ecology of the conservation area. An original application for the change of use to Castlefields car park to a touring and static caravan park was withdrawn earlier this year before a decision was made.
Ann Hartley, Shropshire councillor for Ellesmere, said: "In my opinion this is much too near to the Mere and would prove to be detrimental to a presently beautiful, unspoilt area of natural beauty, and very well used open space."
The scheme will be discussed by Shropshire Council's north planning committee on Tuesday at 2pm in Shirehall.
A report on behalf of Shropshire Council's planning officers says the proposed development site is a "sensitive" area.
"As areas of the proposal cannot be fully assessed due to the lack of information it is the recommendation that the application be refused," the report adds.
