Parish councillors have held an extraordinary general meeting today to clarify their position on plans for a new car park on the outskirts of Portinscale.
A final decision on the 150-space car park and amenities at Ullock Moss is due to be made by planners at the Lake District National Park Authority on Wednesday, December 1.
A 79-page report shows the contentious application has now attracted more than 700 representations.
In February, members of Above Derwent Parish Council, which covers Portinscale, voted in favour of the application – although they expressed reservations about plans for a bike hire depot and bus turning point at nearby Cupboard Field, which they said would lead to Ullock Moss becoming a “focal attraction, contributing to increased traffic through Portinscale village”.
A spokesman for the parish council said of the meeting, held on Friday: “Nothing has changed in terms of the council’s position on the application, and we still approve of the car park with our stated reservations.
““The meeting has been called because the members were unable to discuss the matter at the last meeting of the council, and they wanted to clarify their position in advance of the LDNPA’s decision next week.”
Applicant Michael Anderton, of Lingholm Private Trust, has proposed building the car park as a means of alleviating massive traffic congestion and fly-parking across the Portinscale area.
He argues it would significantly improve road safety and address major parking problems seen at Portinscale and Catbells, where hundreds of cars cram along rural roads and bus services have been suspended at busy times.
This week, Mr Anderton told the Reminder: “The current situation, with visitors parking wherever they like, is unsustainable, and the feedback we’ve had from local people has been hugely positive.
“As far as I am aware the parish council still supports the application, but we’ll have to see what happens at the meeting. As far as I am concerned, the bus access is integral to the proposal.”
National park planning officers have recommended that the development be approved but with 20 different conditions needing to be met.
Supporters include Borrowdale Parish Council, highways authority Cumbria County Council and Highways England. Objectors include the National Trust, the Friends of the Lake District and Cumbria Wildlife Trust.
Opponents have argued it would attract more vehicles into and through the area, as well as setting a precedent for the development of large commercial car parks in sensitive areas of the Lake District, which they believe could then trigger similar proposals from landowners in other Lakeland valleys including Borrowdale.
