A PROPOSAL to transform a Workington former pet crematorium site into a caravan site has been refused by the council

The scheme, put before Allerdale Borough Council, would have involved the relocation of the CL Caravan and Camping site from the larger Gale Brow site to a location across the road.

The proposed site was a small paddock opposite the now closed Gale Brow Pet Business site in Winscales.

The existing lodge on the former site was also due to be demolished as part of the plans.

Alongside neighbouring councils, Allerdale Borough Council announced this year its tourism strategy, which endeavours to attract tourists to the west of Cumbria.

In this vein, the applicant noted: “We base the application upon the fact that the current CL site is a busy location serving tourists coming in to West Cumbria to the Western Lakes catering for both caravans and campers.

“The proposed relocation is because the larger site has been sold and is the subject of a current planning application to convert the site into a holiday lodge park.”

The plans outlined a desire from the owners to utilise as much of the existing infrastructure already in place on the site.

The old existing access to the former pet crematorium site would also have been reused.

A statement from the club said: “The proposal represents a valid reason for the change of use of the brownfield site as described for the use which is based upon the tourism details already set out in the Local Plan.”

But Allerdale Borough Council, ultimately exercised their right to refuse to grant planning permission for the application.

In a written decision notice they stated the reasons for the council’s decision to refuse permission.

They said: “The proposal constitutes non-essential and unjustified tourism and associated residential development outside the defined settlement hierarchy, contrary the Allerdale Local Plan Part 1 and Part 2.”

They added: “The applicant has failed to suitably demonstrate that the proposed development would ensure safe access and provide adequate levels of car parking and turning, and would not harm the safety of the highways network, contrary to the Allerdale Local Plan.”

View more at: allerdale.gov.uk, use ref: FUL/2021/0019.