Caravan park gets green light

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Thursday, 17 January 2019 21:17

By Elgan Hearn -- Local Democracy Reporter

A 40-berth caravan holiday park will be built on the site of a former nursery, despite concerns about road safety.

The caravan park will be built at the former Burford Nurseries site in the village, near Tenbury Wells, after Shropshire Council’s South Planning Committee gave the plans the green light.

But members voiced their concerns about road safety, with a 60mph limit road running alongside the park.

A condition was added that road safety would be looked at as part of permission being granted.

The application was made by Worcestershire Caravan Sales which said it would retain the existing cafe building as reception and a cafe-bistro and park shop.
Andrew Sierakowski, planning officer, told the meeting: “The application seeks planning permission for the change of use of land from a retail garden centre to a holiday park comprising the demolition of the existing garden centre and polytunnels, the siting of 40 static caravans, alterations to access the construction of internal roads and parking, provision of a play area and the retention of an existing building.

“The application has been submitted by Worcester Caravan Sales who own and operate a number of caravan parks across Worcestershire and the surrounding authorities.

“The application states that Burford Nurseries is an underperforming nursery which is no longer able to compete with larger modern nurseries and destination garden centres and that the site was accordingly placed on the market for sale in 2017.

“The owner has been unable to find a purchaser interested in retaining the nursery business and as a result, it has been sold to the applicant.”

The meeting was told that the site is well covered by large green hedgerows and would have a minimal impact on the landscape.

But members were concerned by a 60mph road alongside the site, worried that families may be risking their safety.

Councillor Simon Harris, member for Broseley, said he was worried a child could be hurt.

He said: “I am finding it very difficult to get a grip on it because heavy goods vehicles move down that road at such a speed it could easily be the case that a child gets sucked into the path of one.

“There will be families using it and we need to think about a speed restriction.”
Councillor Gwilym Butler, member for Cleobury Mortimer, added: “There will be families, a couple of adults, a couple of children, maybe a pushchair and a dog, this is going to be dangerous for them.”

Councillor Madge Shineton, member for Cleobury Mortimer, added: “It will be very different to the nursery. People would come locally, drive and stay at the site when it was a nursery.

“For this, people will drive from away, it will be people coming in to the area and they may need to slow down and look for it on a busy road.”

Members voted six in favour and one abstention, to grant planning permission.

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