Whitestake recreation centre plan delayed over road worries

Brothers Paul and Richard Kenworthy, alongside their father John, want to turn the six-hectare Turbary House Nursery site off Chainhouse Lane, Whitestake into an area where there would be a petting farm, laser clay pigeon shooting, bazooka balls, mini jeep off-roading, as well as a 27-pitch touring caravan site and caravan storage.

The Kenworthys say the development would create around 10 jobs and would boost the local area, and the plans had been recommended for approval by South Ribble's planning committee.

>>>Read more about the plans here

But at the last minute, the decision making was delayed over concerns that an access track built to service the site was not part of the consultation.

One resident of Newgate Lane, Whitestake, who has objected to the plans, said: "The building of this ‘track’ has clearly had a detrimental impact on the openness and character of the Green Belt."

Another local resident, who asked not to be named, said he worried about the "creeping industrialisation" of the site, and claims there have been surface water problems on his land since the development of the track.

A total of 26 people have made representations in support of the plans, with 19 letters of objection.

Farington Parish Council has objected to the application on grounds relating to the impact on Greenbelt, wildlife, residential amenity and air quality issues.

In the original report to committee members by planning officer Chris Sowerby, he stated that development “constitutes an appropriate form of development in the Green Belt” and that “The proposed development would not be out of character with the local area”.

It also states the development would give a chance to regulate activities on the site.