Wild animal reserve plan faces objections

Plans by the owners of a recently closed zoo to create a wild animal reserve in a national park are being opposed by a parish council.

New Roots Holding Company Ltd wants to create a new visitor attraction at Brockholes Farm, Cumbria, within the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

The people behind the project operated South Lakes Safari Zoo in Dalton before it closed on 31 December, but under a different company name.

Responding to the plans, Tebay Parish Council said the scheme would not suit the "very special landscape".

In its planning statement, the applicant said it intended to "develop a more integrated and smaller scale" attraction to "align with their priorities, values and vision".

But the parish council objected to the proposed structures at the reserve, claiming the giraffe enclosure especially would be visible from the M6.

"It is not clear how the buildings would be screened from view," it said.

According to planning documents, the reserve would consist of animal enclosures as well as an expansion of existing holiday accommodation with the addition of three shepherds' huts and two safari lodges.

It is also proposed that one of the existing holiday cottages would be converted to a cafe and a welcome centre would be constructed on the site.

Planning documents submitted by the applicant say the design has sought to work with the "landscape and special qualities" of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The intention is house animals including white rhinos, honey badgers, zebras, red pandas, sloths, giraffes and lynx.

"The space on offer at the site means the animals will have greater access to enjoy their surroundings which is part of the applicant's focus on animal welfare," the documents said.

Tebay Parish Council also raised concerns about access from the main A685 road.

However planning documents claim the proposed attraction is "small and controlled" and therefore will not have an "unacceptable" impact on the local road network.

The application is under consideration by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.

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