Plans for a new campsite near the historic Belvoir Castle have been withdrawn following significant public opposition and concerns over traffic safety.
The Caravan and Motorhome Club, which submitted the planning application to South Kesteven District Council, decided to withdraw their proposal after receiving considerable feedback from the local community and recommendations for refusal from Lincolnshire County Council’s Highways team.
The proposal included 140 pitches for touring caravans and motorhomes, along with designated areas for glamping and tent camping. However, local residents and officials raised alarms about the suitability of the narrow, rural roads in handling increased traffic from large vehicles, as reported by BBC.
Lincolnshire County Council’s Highways team expressed “serious concerns” about the traffic management plan, suggesting that the roads around Belvoir Castle were not designed to accommodate such a significant influx of caravans and motorhomes. Their recommendation for refusal was a critical factor in the decision to pull the application.
Robert Leadenham, the ward councillor for Belvoir, highlighted the community’s opposition, stating that 60 letters of objection were submitted to the council.
He believes that the extensive public backlash and media coverage played a significant role in the Caravan and Motorhome Club’s decision to withdraw.
“If I were a betting man, I would suggest the number of public objections was a key factor in the withdrawal,” Leadenham said, as quoted in the BBC report.
Local resident John Buxton from Woolsthorpe by Belvoir echoed these sentiments, underscoring the safety risks posed by the proposed campsite. “The community had very strong feelings on this, and we knew the road wasn’t meant for caravans. It could have become an absolute death trap,” Buxton explained.
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the application garnered 60 letters of objection, demonstrating strong local opposition to the proposed campsite.
The Caravan and Motorhome Club has indicated that they will take the public comments and feedback into consideration. However, they did not provide any specifics about whether they plan to submit a revised application in the future.
Councilor Leadenham remains vigilant, saying, “It’s a case of ‘watch this space’ as to whether or not the Caravan and Motorhome Club will proceed with a reapplication in the future.” He emphasized that he would support objections to any future plans if traffic impacts were not adequately addressed.
For now, the historic landscape around Belvoir Castle remains unchanged, much to the relief of local residents. The potential for increased traffic and its impact on the small community was a central concern that united opposition against the campsite proposal.
The Caravan and Motorhome Club’s decision highlights the importance of community feedback and the challenges of balancing tourism development with local infrastructure capabilities. Future applications will need to address these concerns comprehensively to gain approval.