Planning row over future of Halloween attraction

A planning row has broken out over an application by a Halloween scare attraction to continue operating in the green belt.

The Doncaster Fear Factory has requested permission to change the use of land at Thornhurst Manor Country Park into an outdoor attraction with marquees, event "structures" and shipping containers.

The application to Doncaster Council is retrospective as the marquees have been sited there since 2020.

The event organiser said allowing it to remain permanently would boost the local economy and put the "city on the map", but council planning officers have expressed concerns about the impact on the surrounding area.

The Halloween event runs for two weeks in October, and 200 visitors can be accommodated in an evening session, with 40 in each pre-booked 30-minute time slot.

Additional part-time staff are employed to manage traffic flows and crowd safety at Thornhurst Manor, near Askern, which is an established hotel, wedding venue and golf course.

Writing on Facebook, managing director Laurie Murray, who founded the Fear Factory in her parents' garden when she was 18, said: "I’ve been working hard to secure planning permission for Doncaster Fear Factory - a event we're all extremely proud of. However, we’ve been facing challenges with the application.

"This event is more than just fun; it’s bringing 140 seasonal jobs to Doncaster and injecting thousands of pounds into the local economy. It’s an opportunity to put Doncaster on the map and give our community something exciting to do, attracting tourism and driving more activity in the area."

Since she appealed for support on social media, a large number of comments have been left on Doncaster Council's planning portal in favour of the proposal.

Ms Murray, however, claimed that council planners had indicated they would not approve the application, and Owston Parish Council had also submitted an objection to the plans for it to operate at the country park.

The application was meant to have been determined by 22 October, but a decision has not yet been made.

In a representation statement, the parish council said: "It seems apparent that the owners have no regard for planning as, once again, they are making a retrospective application for the above change of use of land.

"The parish council opposes this application, not only on the above grounds, but also, because of the fact that previous events have been poorly managed, with many complaints.

"We feel that the management of Thornhurst have no regard for the local population, and will continue to do as they like."

Doncaster Council's principal planning officer noted that although the event structures were described as temporary, they remained in place all year round in a green belt location.

In their submission they added: "The main elements of the proposed visitor attraction are indoor structures which are not provided as appropriate facilities in connection with the change of use of land for outdoor recreation.

"As such, the proposal is inappropriate development in the green belt."

It was stated that the applicant would have to demonstrate that "exceptional circumstances" applied for the development to be given permission.

The council's senior highways development control officer, Andy Wiltshire, wrote that he did not support the application because he had concerns there was not adequate parking for 200 vehicles, which could end up leaving the site at the same time.

However, senior environmental health officer Fiona Boothroyd's submission stated: "The Fear Factory has been in operation for four years and there have never been any noise complaints or other issues to my knowledge associated with the running of this event on the site."

The BBC has approached Doncaster Fear Factory for comment.

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