Quarry holiday park wins over planners
0 Comments | Western Daily Press, Jul 27, 2010 | by CAROLINE WOOD
Ambitious plans to transform a derelict quarry into a holiday retreat in the heart of the Somerset countryside has won unanimous approval from planners.
Despite fears that the narrow, winding roads around Stoke St Michael, Holcombe and Leigh on Mendip will become jammed with hundreds of holidaymakers coming to and from Cookswood Quarry, the application was given a resounding thumbs-up by Mendip District Council’s planning committee.
Richard Massey applied to build 143 timber lodges on 40 hectares of derelict land that was quarried for limestone up until 20 years ago.
The holiday retreat will have a swimming pool and spa, sports facilities, a restaurant, activity lake, land train, bio diversity centre, nature conservation trails, play areas and a car park for 150 cars. The plans have been five years in the making.
Originally the highways authority recommended refusal because the four routes to the quarry are all along country lanes with no footpaths.
Experts working on behalf of the applicant formulated a travel plan to stagger the arrival and departure of more than 200 cars on one day during the peak season. Several villagers remained unconvinced, fearing cars were likely to be parked on the lanes around the holiday park and there would be constant congestion.
There were worries over the impact on the rich and diverse wildlife as the area is home to otters, bats, badgers and greater crested newts.
Planning officer in charge of the application Les Kimberley, who recommended approval, agreed it was “an incredibly rich area, the site being surrounded by areas of special scientific importance” which included a possibly Neolithic cave nearby known as Browne’s Hole and designated as a scheduled ancient monument.
Those in favour wanted to see the quarry made safe. Three people have died in recent years after jumping into the ice-cold lake.
Councillor Les Bennett described the quarry as a shambles filled with dumped cars, prams and old bedsteads.
People got onto the site despite the six-foot security fence surrounding it
spa training