Ranger station at Yorkshire beautyspot to be pulled down after holiday park firm loses appeal

One of the country’s biggest holiday park operators Haven Leisure appealed against East Riding Council over its refusal to grant planning permission for the building at Thornwick Bay Holiday Village.

Haven Leisure argued that the building would inspire an interest in nature in children holidaying at the park and would give them something to do in bad weather.

However Inspector Graham Wraight dismissed the appeal saying on a site visit he found the siting and orientation of the building did not correspond with the plans provided by the appeal.

Mr Wraight felt it was an “isolated and visually awkward addition to the area” which failed to protect the existing landscape character of the Heritage Coast.

He concluded that the development “would cause significant harm to the character and appearance of the area”.

In a separate claim for costs, Haven Leisure argued that councillors had acted unreasonably by twice refusing planning permission against officers’ recommendations.

Inspector Wraight said councillors were entitled to act as they had and dismissed the appeal.

He said: “Whilst I accept that it will have been frustrating to the applicant that the council members took a different view to that which was recommended by their officers, they were entitled to take this course of action and it does not represent unreasonable behaviour.”

He said although Haven Leisure may have expected the amended planning application to have addressed the reasons for the previous refusal, councillors “were entitled to consider the new application on its own merits.”

Heritage Coasts were established to conserve the best stretches of undeveloped coast in England.

Flamborough Headland, one of 32 in England, is best known for its towering 300ft chalk cliffs and huge seabird colony.

The most northerly coastal chalk outcrop in Britain, its stunning scenery, which includes one of the oldest surviving complete lighthouses in the country, dating back to the 1670s, and an active lighthouse, which is over 200 years old, attracts tens of thousands of visitors a year.

A spokesman for East Riding Council said: “We are in dialogue with Haven Leisure following the outcome of the appeal.

“We are requesting them that they remove the structure.”

A spokesperson for Thornwick Bay Holiday Village said: “Significant investment is being provided to enhance facilities at Thornwick Bay and bring more tourists to the region and the ranger station formed part of an initiative to inspire an interest in nature for children staying at our park.

“Whilst we are disappointed that our planning appeal has been turned down, we recognise the decision taken and plan to remove the ranger station in due course after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.”