Residents hit out at 'eyesore' caravan park plan in the Shropshire Hills
Plans to double the size of a caravan park in the Shropshire Hills have been described as an "eyesore".
The proposal to increase the size of the Wheathill Touring Caravan Park at Wheathill, near Ludlow, has come under fire from parish councillors and Shropshire Hills Area of National Beauty.
However, Shropshire Council officers say with landscaping it will not impact on the nature of the surrounding countryside and have recommended it go ahead.
The existing caravan park provides pitches for 25 touring caravans. The proposal would extend the current site and give an additional 25 all-weather caravan pitches.
The proposal would also include the building of an estate road, the erection of toilet block and a landscaping scheme.
The scheme has been recommended by Shropshire Council senior planning officer Graham French, with his report stating the proposed development will help support the rural economy and local tourism.
The report acknowledges there would be some short-term localised effects on the appearance of the location.
These would, however, be mitigated by the proposed comprehensive landscaping works and the recommended conditions.
Overall, it is considered the character and natural beauty of the Shropshire Hills AONB would be preserved.
Objections to the proposal are led by Wheathill Parish Council, which claims the National Planning Policy Framework forbids "major developments" in an area of outstanding beauty.
Shropshire Hills AONB consider the proposed development to be of inappropriate scale at this location and echo the parish council with its comments about the National Planning Policy Framework.
On Shropshire Council's planning portal website, 43 public comments had been lodged about the development proposal, with 33 for and 10 against.
Speaking in favour of the proposal, Ken Pritchard said: "The client base is predominantly mature and contribute to the local businesses. The site is concealed and the buildings have been transformed from run down sheds to being very presentable."
Laura Fanouraki, who objects to the development, said: "Careful consideration regarding the positioning of buildings in this application would be of great benefit to ensure that it does not become a sprawling and spreading eyesore."
