Holiday park with 420 caravans could bring millions into East Yorkshire village and create 70 jobs

East Riding Council’s Planning Committee approved the park, to be built off Hornsea Road in Skipsea, after hearing it could boost the village’s tourism offering and create around 70 jobs.

An agent for the applicant told the committee they had a “proven track record” of running award winning caravan parks in the area.

But Neil Blenkhorn, a local farmer who spoke in objection to the plans, said the increase in traffic, pressure on local services and noise from the park outweighed any economic benefits.

The parish councils of Skipsea and neighbouring Bewholme also objected, claiming the park would draw thousands of holidaymakers into the area leaving local roads unable to cope.

Plans from MB Goodwin approved by the council include a new club house, swimming pool, bar, restaurant and lake for water sports and activities.

They also include 420 static caravans which the applicant said would be built by local manufacturers.

Councillors passed the plans on condition a fence was put up on the border with Mr Blenkhorn’s farm and that the applicant tell visitors to stick to main roads.

The applicant’s agent told the committee the park would also bring environmental benefits through plans to plant 23,000 trees around its boundary.

The agent added the plans took traffic and local services impact concerns into account, with a new access road from Hornsea Road to the site planned under the project.

The agent said: “The applicant has a proven track record of running award winning caravan sites in the area. The park would bring an estimated £4.3m into the local area, create 71 direct jobs and a further 41 indirectly in other local services.

“These benefits must be given substantial weight, because the tourism sector needs support now more than ever. The planned lake will help with drainage and that and the new trees will bring significant benefits for local wildlife and biodiversity.

“Yorkshire Water, the Environment Agency and highways officers have no objections to the scheme.”

Mr Blenkhorn told the committee the park would be a “tipping point” for an area which already features several similar sites.

Mr Blenkhorn said: “This park would create a sprawl of the like we’ve never seen before. It would impact on the local area, services and my own business. At what point does something like this change the character of an area?

“This would be the tipping point, and it would see us lose arable fields that we need to preserve the area’s character. Anyone doubting the impact of noise should come to my farm, where you can hear YMCA being played from across the fields on a Friday night.

“I also have plans to turn over the majority of my fields to grazing. I have faith in my animals, but what about people who might stray onto my fields from the park? The impact is completely unacceptable.”

Planning Committee member Coun John Whittle said he questioned the economic benefits to the wider area given many holidaymakers would use the park’s own facilities.

The councillor, whose North Holderness ward borders the Skipsea area, added it could see holidaymakers using small local roads as “rat runs” to avoid traffic.

Coun Whittle said: “I have nothing against caravan parks, and if it brings money into the area then all the better. But I do wonder how much of a benefit this would be to the area, how much of it would actually go back into the local community?

“Also, the traffic on the main roads is already immense. Locals are aware of cut throughs, but so are the caravan dwellers and many would use them as rat runs.

“These are narrow and dangerous country roads, drivers won’t be used to seeing tractors and combine harvesters suddenly emerge from junctions. It’s an accident waiting to happen.”

Coun Michael Lee said that while he was sympathetic to objections, but he added he would support the “well thought out” development.

Coun Lee said: “I have sympathy with the local residents and parish councils, they live in the area and have local knowledge. But this development is an investment in the area and that’s beneficial.

“A key part of our regional economy is tourism, at a national level these kinds of developments are encouraged in areas without extensive industry.”

Committee Chair Coun David Tucker said the plans would meet a demand for tourism which drives the area’s local economy.

Coun Tucker said: “There will always be people who take advantage of rat runs. We hope people will be public spirited when using the roads, but there’s very little we can do. This is what people want, it’s what’s driving the local economy.”

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James Mitchinson