Caravan and camping site planned near the Shropshire border

Applicant Levi Finney wants to build amenity buildings, a new driveway and caravan hard standings for a caravan and camping site on land at Sunnyside Stables, Coole Lane, Audlem.

Residents have lodged objections to the plans primarily because they say a touring caravan site already exists yards away at Overwater Marina which has recently been expanded to accommodate more tourists.

A planning statement by Philip Brown, charter town planners and development consultants, says: "This application is seeking to provide the facilities required under the certification scheme, together with toilet/shower facilities, constrained within a purpose-built amenity building.

“In addition, it is proposed to provide hard-surfaced pitches for touring caravans and towing vehicles, served by a short access driveway. Five hard-surfaced pitches would be provided; each served by water and electricity points. The site would also include grassed areas for the accommodation of up to 10 tents."

Residents living near to Sunnyside Stables have raised concerns about road safety and the proximity of a near-by caravan site.

Ian and Barbara Walley posted: "Coole Lane is a rural lane which are particularly busy for three quarters of the year with agricultural vehicles - especially when farmers use contractors who operate at speed.

"The farming equipment that moves down the lane is getting bigger and bigger.

"On top of this, the lane is used increasingly by cycling parties, horse riders and ramblers.

"There is already a mobile caravan site at the start of Coole Lane (The Willows) plus the mobile site at Overwaters Marina, both of which have increased the heavy traffic load up and down the lane.

"In short, the lane is already overcrowded and yet another business, increasing more traffic, also increases the risk of collisions.

"We are concerned that if these mobile sites are installed, they will become permanent homes."

Chloe Harris, a close neighbour to the proposed caravan site, also had road safety concerns.

She said: "Coole Lane has become a great deal busier over the past few years with caravans travelling to and from the already established caravan sites at Overwater Marina and The Willows.

"It forms part of the Cheshire Cycleway and a great many cyclists use it regularly as do a number of ramblers due to the large number of public footpaths in the local area.

"The school buses also use the lane and due to the varying width of the road there is often some difficulty in vehicles passing one another, especially when tractors and other large farming machinery is involved.

"The proposed site for the campsite is very close to one of the worst pinch points in the lane with a blind bend and small bridge over the brook.

"Hardly a week passes without a near miss and tyre marks left on the roadway due to drivers braking suddenly in order to avoid a collision."

The plans are available to view on Cheshire East Council website.