RESIDENTS fear developments at a caravan and camping site will increase noise and nuisance for people living nearby, but the plans have been supported by businesses and tourist groups.
Bedale Town Council is objecting to the plans to change the camping and caravanning site in Burrill Road to mixed use with shepherd huts, a new toilet and shower block and a warden's bungalow. A meeting this week heard claims there was not enough information in the planning application to justify the change of use.
Resident Brian Geering told councillors: “The objectors are people backing onto the field, all those in favour are people from outside the area who don’t live nearby. Caravan and camping sites are found in the countryside and rural areas, not in the towns. We have lost security and privacy, the noise level is already high and there is the potential devaluation of our property. We came here for some peace and quiet.
“The concern is that they will start putting static caravans on and we don’t want that. One thing that really stands out is the warden’s bungalow which in fact is a warden's palace.”
Councillor John Howe said: “The application is very short of information, there is no comment about what happens on site, no details of the shepherd huts and landscaping, there is no justification for a second toilet block. “
So far there have been 11 objections and 37 supporting comments for the application.
Barry Dodd said in a letter to Hambleton planning: “As chairman of the Durham Centre of The Caravan and Motorhome Club I would like to support this application. We rally on this site at least twice a year and have done so for many years, even going for a ten day holiday rally each year which brings people into Bedale from all over the country, this results in bringing much-needed income for the local economy.”
Dean Wilkinson said: “I would like to express my support for this. I am a local business owner, The Milbank Arms in Well, just a few miles from Bedale. We heavily rely on tourists in the spring and summer to help with our trade. I feel the intended expansion of the camping site will benefit not only ourselves but surrounding villages and Bedale town centre as well.”
Resident Dennis Garner wrote objecting. “The toilet block which is proposed to be built in the centre of the field is unnecessary as there is already one near the boundary which surely could be expanded," he said. "This only indicates that the site is going to get bigger and move nearer to the residential properties.
"Even with the site at present the amount of vans well exceeds the original amounts allowed. On some occasions there is in excess of 60-plus units especially when a rally takes place. The noise late at night and into the night is unacceptable and even more so when the rallies are on.”
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