A COUNCILLOR'S plea 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 has been turned down.

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.

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

Councillor Cockburn contested this and appealed to the Secretary of State to call for an EIA.

She was disappointed to receive a letter saying: "In the opinion of the Secretary of State, the proposal is not likely to have significant effects on the environment."

An accompanying statement says: "The effects on ecology can be adequately addressed through the planning system in the form of a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment and a Habitats Survey.

"Amenity impacts (noise, pollution) on the closest residential properties are likely; however, these are not expected to be significant given the nature and scale of the proposal and can be managed through the planning process."

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.

Councillor Cockburn said: "I'm extremely disappointed. It's absurd that a popular recreational place like Soddy Gap which people have spent time and money creating does not warrant an EIA.

"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 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."