***We have just 3 weeks to register as many objections as possible***
COUNTDOWN TIMER
(NB// THIS is FIRST DRAFT - CONTENT TO BE UPDATED)
Planning application #21/0783 is for a commercial development on Blaze Fell in Armathwaite.
The development will include a luge track, cable car lift, operational building, a commercial building and car parking. The developers anticipate approx. 500+ cars per day (??) will visit the site each day bringing congestion, noise and pollution.
While developments like this would be welcomed if sited in a more suitable location, Protect Eden feel the proposed tourist attraction would detract significantly from the natural beauty of this unspoilt area, changing it forever. The development would bring large numbers of people on short trips from the lake district and beyond to an isolated rural area placing untenable pressure on the local infrastructure and impacting severely on the environment. Visitor attractions of this type are normally associated with theme parks or existing tourism locations and if it were to go ahead, it may well set a precedent for further development of this area.
To help stop this development and protect this unspoilt area for future generations, it is VITAL that as many individuals as possible make a specific objection direct to Eden Council before (DATE).
Please read the information below and follow the steps to comment on the Eden District Council Planning Application.
1. Read through the information below which explains how the development contravenes a number of key policies in the Eden District Council planning document. (Mentioning some of these specific policy breaches in your objection is crucial).
2. Visit the Eden District Planning Portal and look for planning application 21/0783 Blaze Fell. (LINK TO PLANNING PORTAL)
3. Register your objection taking care to cite specific policy breaches. It is important that you have your say and respond directly to Eden District Council and to your Parish Council by making points valid to a planning application.
Location
The rural location on prominent open fellside in a wooded ravine does not meet Eden District Council primary planning primary planning policy LS1. This policy and the and the National Planning Policy Framework guide development to sustainable locations. The Eden Local Plan contains a ‘settlement hierarchy’ to determine where the Council will and will not permit large scale development, Blaze Fell is in the very lowest category and the policy seeks to avoid sporadic development in unsustainable locations like this. The application similarly fails to meet many similar policies in the Lazonby Neighbourhood Plan 2014 - 3032
Environment
Eden Local Plan Policy DEV5- Design of New Development protects and where possible enhances the district’s distinctive rural landscape, natural environment and biodiversity. This proposed commercial development in the countryside would completely change the character of the landscape, particularly when combined with the adjoining lodge park already approved. Attempts have been made to hide the buildings but It is likely the cable car structures and buildings would extend above the trees.
Wildlife and ecology - Cumbria Wildlife trust has already submitted a formal objecion as the luge would be next door to a County Wildlife site with crested newts and bats.
Eden Local Plan Policy ENV2- Protection and Enhancement of Landscapes and Trees contains the Cumbria Landscape Character Assessment Guidance and Toolkit that has regard to the particular regard to the particular character Area’s key characteristics, local distinctiveness and capacity for change.
The site lies in landscape type 10 ‘sandstone ridge’ where development should be avoided in exposed skyline locations with the and the ridgeline respected. Farming related or other development must be discretely located and designed to complement the character of the landscape. The policy only permits new development where it conserves and enhances distinctive elements of landscape character and function.
Lighting - The supporting information in the application is submitted to justify opening for 8 hours per day, all year round. Any floodlighting and light spill from the heavily glazed buildings proposed and would impact on dark skies. The developer has said verbally, in a public meeting, that he would only open during daylight with the facility closed at night, but this cannot be a viable position viable long term given such a massive investment. The operational buildings are to be partially set into the hillside and at night would be visible from afar including the nearby Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Eden Local Plan Policy ENV3 is clear that development must not affect the North Pennine AONB.
Loss of a tranquillity of the open countryside - There would be the loss of quiet space and opportunity for enjoyment of the countryside a tranquil walk on the nearby permissive footpath from Tarn Wood to Blaze Fell to Open Access land. There would be a cumulative impact when combined with the approved planning permission for the adjacent holiday lodge development.
Climate change and Co2 generation This development would be a new major source of greenhouse gas emissions, principally through traffic movements to the site and, traffic constantly traffic movements up and down several hundred feet on the fell. There would be a considerable number of hard surfaces, with 100 car parking on the fell top. Additional tree planting at Nord Vue has already been promised as part of the holiday lodge development.
Flooding and drainage. The construction would affect ??? flooding, the amount of water going down the hillside, foul water disposal, the existing ground water protection area??
Local Plan Policy DEV2- Water Management and Flood Risk requires development to be in a location which avoids risks to the water supply, or includes sufficient mitigation measures to ensure that there is no risk to water supply and would not compromise the effectiveness of existing flood defences and the sequential approach to development in flood risk areas
Construction materials and design – the proposal is not in line with Lazonby Neighbourhood Plan design guide.
Noise - from the luges, cable car and traffic, servicing will be outside operating times. Noise carries across the valley
Traffic and transport
Eden Local Plan Policy DEV3 - Transport, Accessibility and Rights of Way only encourages development in areas with existing public transport availability, or in areas where new development is likely to lead to the creation of available public transport which is not likely here. Developments likely to generate severe adverse travel impacts will not be permitted where they are in isolated or difficult to access locations unless an overwhelming environmental, social or economic need can be demonstrated.
Development will be refused if it will result in a severe impact in terms of road safety and increased traffic congestion. Development should provide safe and convenient access for pedestrians, cyclists and disabled people.
Applications for major development (should it meet the definition), will be expected to be accompanied by a Travel Plan and/or a Transport Assessment.
The development is not accessible by a range of modes of transport as required by Eden Local Plan Policy ENV5 for sustainable transport as it is highly dependent on car use. The local Plan states that development will not be permitted in isolated or difficult to access locations unless an overwhelming environmental, social or economic need can be justified. There is no such justification.
The Transport scoping note provided by the applicant in the application by AMNI transportation para 8.3 quotes ‘2,400 visitors per day’ (which is approaching a maximum of a million a year) ‘with a maximum of 7,200 luge runs per day with each person undertaking 3 luge runs’.
The traffic generation scoping note and analysis ‘uses the visitor numbers by (1920 people per day/then car occupancy of 3.5 people) to give circa 550 vehicles per day, which equates to circa 70 vehicles for each hour’ of daily operation.
Eden Local Plan Policy DEV4 covers Infrastructure and Implementation and no additional Cycling and walking facilities and public transport are intended to be provided. No highway improvements or changes are proposed to local road capacity.
The proposal for 20% public transport rising to 50% on public transport is unrealistic. Train services on the Settle Carlisle line are infrequent and a 1.6 mile walk away. The service is restricted to x trains per day
Bus users would need to walk 0.8 mile to the site from the A6 on a busy road with no footway. The proposal to buss users to and from the lakes and rom Carlisle station …..
Residents believe that the junction from Armathwaite to the A6 and local road capacity will not safely cope with these numbers and would become congested, effecting residents from Hesket, Lazonby and Ainstable parishes.
Satellite Navigation already brings cars from the east of the county through Armathwaite and narrow heavily used roads especially Station road, Armathwaite
Economy
This application is the development of a major commercial attraction, the first of its kind in Europe, likely to be a short-day day trip. As a day-trip type tourism attraction it will not attract overnight stays in its own right. The commercial offer is self-contained with no evidence to suggest tourists will stay in the area or use local facilities.
The job creation (estimated as 15 full time equivalent; 10 full time and 10 part time) is very low for a major tourism destination with predominantly low paid jobs in the leisure industry, hard to fill.
To be viable the cost of entry would need to be high, ??a luge in New Zealand charges £35- £120 for entry and 3 runs? Check?
Eden Local Plan Policy EC4 Tourism Accommodation and Facilities is clear that large scale tourism proposals that would result in a substantial increase in visitor numbers will only be permitted if the following criteria are met:
This application is not for small scale tourism as small scale under the terms of the council policy refers to caravan, camping (including camping pods) and chalet sites of up to twenty units or pitches, nor is it farm diversification as the scale is not consistent to the location of the farm holding and activities. It should be resisted
The future of Blaze Fell is up to you.
Please register an objection on Eden District Council and let your local Councillor know your views.
Thank you
I will add the rest of the text from Peter’s green handout when I get time later today…
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