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Wooden camping pods set to be added to park
CAMPING pods are to stand alongside more conventional tents and caravans at a large caravan park at Fylingdales following approval from the North York Moors National Park planning committee.
Members agreed to the siting of nine camping pods and 11 static caravans at the park, despite an objection from a nearby resident.
The application was made by Andrew Butterfield of Flask Bungalow Farm, Fylingdales who wants to use a section of Grouse Hill Caravan and Camping Park for the pods and caravans.
Camping pods are proving popular at other sites, especially in the Lake District. Made of wood, they are described as being similar to upturned boats or bow topped Romany caravans without wheels.
Their advantage is they are weather-proof and can extend the period each year of use of the site.
The caravan park has been established since 1976 and has planning permission for 160 touring caravans and 175 tents.
Mr Butterfield said a number of his long-standing customers are now getting too old and frail to holiday with touring caravans and as a result are moving to other sites where there are static vans.
He has agreed he will reduce the number of touring vans on the site to accommodate the pods so the total number will not be increased.
He has planted trees to screen the site but it will take time for them to become mature enough to be effective.
It is already well screened to the south and west by thick belts of trees and to the north by rising ground.
In view of the changing market, Mr Butterfield said he cannot afford to wait for the new trees to mature before introducing the pods.
Natural England had no objections to the proposal and said the overall character of the site would be improved by the use of appropriate materials for the camping pods.
The resident who objected said there was potential for the pollution of a pond in the area from the sewerage treatment plant on the site. But the Environment Agency and the environmental health officer raised no objections.
Planning officers, approving the application, said they believed the development was unlikely to have any additional impact on that part of the national park.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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