A decision over a new car park on the outskirts of a Lake District village has been postponed today at the 11th hour.
Opponents and supporters had gathered at the Lake District National Park Authority headquarters in Kendal this morning, expecting a decision on the contentious plan for Portinscale.
But the matter was deferred only a few minutes into the meeting of the development control committee as members of the planning panel voted for a site visit.
Plans have been lodged for a new 150-space car park with toilets at Ullock Moss, and a new shuttle bus turning facility further down the road at Cupboard Field.
It means the decision is now not expected until a meeting of the committee on Wednesday, December 1.
Panel member Judith Derbyshire proposed the visit, seconded by Paul Turner which was carried six votes to one abstention.
Mr Turner told the meeting: “I agree and after reading the paperwork and looking at the plans, I think a site visit would be most beneficial.”
The site visit will take place on November 10 and David McGowan, the national park authority’s long-serving head of development control who is leaving the LDNPA, apologised to those who had travelled for the hearing.
Mr McGowan said: “The decision the committee has made to inspect the site means that the application will not be considered today so members will not take the presentation and there will be no further debate on the matter.
“The matter will be referred back to a subsequent meeting of the committee, which is likely to be the first Wednesday in December.”
Papers to go before the committee show that 341 representations of support have been sent in with a total of 325 objections.
Supporters say it would significantly improve road safety and address major parking problems seen at Portinscale and Catbells where hundreds of cars cram along rural roads. But critics say it would simply lure more vehicles into and through the area as well as setting a precedent for large commercial car parks in the Lake District.
Applicant Michael Anderton, of Lingholm Private Trust, has also applied for additional measures to improve the associated highway and footpath infrastructure.
National park planning officers have recommended that the application be given the go-ahead but with 20
different conditions needing to be met. The final decision rests with the development control committee.
