Businesses back 233 lodge resort plan

Plans for a large scale holiday resort, which in its original application attracted thousands of objections, have been backed by local businesses.

ILM Group proposes building 233 lodges at Roanhead Farm, near Askam in Cumbria, plans for which are being considered by Westmorland and Furness Council.

A previous application for 450 lodges led to 3,700 letters and a 7,000 signature petition opposing the scheme.

But a number of independent businesses have now come forward to back the revised plans.

John Parrott, who owns Polly’s Plaice fish and chip shop in Askam, said the current economic climate had seen the closure of many businesses and been a "real set back" for the community.

Mr Parrott, who has worked in the area for 22 years, added: "The prospect of a new resort presents a significant opportunity for rejuvenation and will be a great facility for people locally, as well as the families of BAE workers.”

Lee Stoller, who runs Stollers furniture store in Barrow, said the hospitality and leisure facilities the scheme's backers had promised were “desperately needed in this area.”

He said: "The proposals for Roanhead Lodge Resort can help to grow the visitor economy by encouraging people to explore and spend in this part of the county, which will be of benefit to our local business community and the people who live and work here.”

The previous 450-lodge scheme, withdrawn in November, was deemed "inappropriate" by wildlife groups, due to the "delicate" ecology of the area.

Those against the plans included Natural England, the National Trust, Cumbria Wildlife Trust and Friends of the Lake District.

In February, Michael Hill of Friends of the Lake District said the scheme would be wrong for "a rare, fragile and internationally protected area, teeming with wildlife".

He said previous objections would not be carried over to hearings on the revised plans, so urged opponents "to make their views known once more, and as soon as possible".

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