Plans go in to to expand holiday park near Shrewsbury

Janet Wakefield hopes to create 12 lodges on land at The Patches on Valeswood Lane, Valeswood, in Little Ness, between Oswestry and Shrewsbury.

One of the lodges would be used as a reception and accommodation for a park warden.

The plans include 24 proposed parking spaces.

Helen Howie, from agents Berrys, said if successful it will create one full-time job.

But she added a previous application for a lodge for a park warden to live on site was rejected by Shropshire Council in May.

She continued: “The Patches holiday park has proved a successful enterprise. To expand, it is essential to provide a reception and on-site warden to cater for increased numbers of visitors, who can arrive late in the day in the day and often need assistance out-of-hours. An on-site warden is vital for site security and the proper functioning of a holiday park.

“There appears to be a ‘chicken-and-egg’ conundrum in that the business needs an on-site warden to successfully expand, but the council requires a larger business before it can permit an on-site warden.

“The current application therefore seeks the planning consent required for the business’s growth over the next five years.” Ms Howie explained the ‘essential need’ for an on-site warden because of the times when guests arrive, security, and dealing with emergencies.

Demand

She added: “There is no reason why the existing business should not continue and expand as planned.

“There is strong demand for such accommodation in Shropshire and the existing trees units have been highly successful.

“As the business grows, the amount of guests at the site and the amount of maintenance required will increase dramatically, as the horse grazing ceases and the 12 new lodge pitches are installed.”

A decision is expected from Shropshire Council before Decembery the end of November.

By Emily Lloyd, local democracy reporter