Disease threat forces plan to convert sheep centre

Last updated 19:50, Thursday, 07 August 2008

PLANS to convert Cockermouth’s Sheep and Wool Centre into 15 extra en-suite bedrooms for its existing hotel will be considered by Allerdale Borough Council’s development panel on Tuesday.

Owner Roy Campbell was unavailable for comment last night, but said previously that the planning application was a contingency plan in case the centre’s sheep show was forced to close because of blue tongue disease.

Visitor numbers at the centre, off the A66, have been down since the threat of foot and mouth last August.

The centre has an area for live sheep shows but under the proposals, this would be converted into the bedrooms.

The seasonal sheep show, which included sheep shearing displays, involved the constant borrowing and returning of sheep.

However, since the threat of blue tongue disease, this is no longer feasible.

Sheep breeder Mr Campbell said earlier this year that there were no definite plans to close the sheep show yet.

Councillors have been recommended to approve the proposal when they meet on Tuesday at Salterbeck’s Oval Centre in Workington at 1pm.