A COUNCILLOR has appealed to the Secretary of State for an environmental impact assessment to be carried out before plans can go ahead for a proposed holiday park near Broughton.

Coun Nicky Cockburn thinks a tourist development could have an adverse effect on popular wildlife habitat Soddy Gap.

MJN Associates submitted a screening opinion request for a new holiday park at Broughton Lodge, on land owned by M-Sport.

The development would see 150 chalets/caravans built on reclaimed opencast land north of Little Broughton and east of Broughton Moor.

Facilities would include: access areas; visitor arrival parking; shop/reception area; warden's accommodation and grounds maintenance/plant and equipment area.

Allerdale Council decided an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is not required.

"I have taken issue with this and asked the Secretary of State to call for one," said Councillor Cockburn.

"The area is a community asset, we have fought for footpaths to be made public.

"There are so many RSPB red alert birds and wildlife up there. Hen harriers, merlin and yellow hammers have all been spotted."

In her statement to the SoS, Councillor Cockburn said: "We believe that the very size, nature and location merits an EIA.

"The impact of caravans/ lodges with hardstanding plus the area proposed for the reception building, communal buildings car parking and amenity area will have a significant effect on the ecology and biodiversity of the area, including red listed birds and protected species.

"The traffic to the proposal and car park will have a significant effect on the valued Public Right of Way especially as the proposal uses the bridleway as an access."

In the screening opinion request, MJN Associates said: "It is important that any development does not impact on current public use of the pond and surrounding areas used as a community recreation area."

Allerdale Council said: "Overall, it is considered that the development would not have a significant impact to warrant an Environmental Statement, generating solely considerations of local importance. The council recognise that any future application would need to be supported by detailed assessments, especially relating to landscape and ecology (both wildlife and ornithology), to ascertain the extent of any environmental harm at the local level."