New plans for Ellesmere holiday park address community concerns

The application has been submitted to Shropshire Council by local company Euro Source and Find Limited trading as Oswestry Caravans after an original application for the change of use to Castlefields car park to a touring and static caravan park was withdrawn.

The new plans have been designed to address concerns expressed by the community over the size and scale of the original development and its impact on the area.

The revised scheme has been reduced from 54 plots to 20 holiday lodges with all touring caravans removed due to the range of local opposition to multi coloured awnings and an amenity block being built to support touring caravans and motor homes.

All lodges will be serviced directly so an amenity block is not required.

The development will sit within the existing car park minimising alterations to ground levels

A Great Crested Newt survey has revealed that there are no Great Crested Newts on the site and a revised Heritage Assessment has been carried out which confirms the proposal will have limited impact in heritage terms.

The revised position of the lodges means that the proposal will have no impact on the character, setting and significance of the Conservation Area.

“Our client has listened to the concerns of the community and we have revised the scheme accordingly,” said Stuart Thomas, head of planning at Berrys.

“There is significant evidence to support a growing visitor and leisure economy within the Uk and Shropshire in particular and these new holiday lodges will make a significant contribution to the local economy as well as providing an array of direct and indirect jobs throughout the year. The site will also provide quality accommodation giving Mere visitors more opportunity to use the local towns shops.

“The site is well designed to attract more visitors to boost the economy without detriment to the natural, built and historic environment of Ellesmere,” he added.