Plans for new eco-camping site axed

Mo and Geoff Woods at the eco-glamping site in Delph

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CONTROVERSIAL plans for an eco-camping site in Delph were scrapped last night.

The Chronicle had first reported in April how the proposals at the redundant Rough Knarr Quarry had raised many objections from local residents.

In total, 50 letters were sent to Oldham Council. Their concerns were focused on the safety of access roads leading to the proposed site and worries about wildlife.

Two letters were sent in favour of the application.

The plans were submitted by Geoff Woods, a retired construction company director, who defended his eco plan at the three-acre site off Thurston Clough Road.

Mr Woods and his wife Mo, deputy head at St Edward's School, Lees, were seeking to install nine glamping pods, 10 camping plots and one 12-person yurt, a minimum of 32 car-parking spaces and with the existing site access to meet current standards.

Other amenities would use reclaimed materials and include a toilet and shower block with disabled facilities, a separate communal kitchen and an office/site shop with staff accommodation.

Mr Woods told councillors that it was a viable project and that his traffic and highways reports had not shown any detrimental impact on the access roads or traffic.

However, Howard Stott, whose farm surrounds 80 per cent of the land, spoke against the application, citing traffic concerns as a main reason for objecting, as well as the harm it could potentially have on the cattle.

The Environment Agency objected on the grounds that sufficient details were not been provided to demonstrate where and how foul drainage will be discharged from the site.

Access

Councillor John McCann said: "With that number of people there's going to be, over a period of time, considerable amount of effluent."

Mr Woods said he would be using a biodigester to avoid this, as well as a fresh water bore hole so that there would be no need to use the nearby water stream that is used by the cattle.

Councillor Nikki Kirkham, objecting to the proposal, said: "The issue is with the access road. It's a very busy road. People use it as a cut through either way.

"Then there's the noise from the campsite. Speak to residents who live there, they're concerned about this.

"It's in a valley and noise bounces off a valley".

Councillor Rod Blythe said: "It will be lit up at night like a little village. We're going to have urbanisation of a Green Belt."

The application was refused, with one abstention.