Attempts by South Lakeland District Council to secure permission for a hotel and leisure complex to be built on a recreational park in Bowness have been revealed under the Freedom of Information Act.
In response a campaign has been launched to secure better protections for the green space to prevent development in the future.
The documents show how in June this year, the council asked National Park planners to consider granting permission for The Glebe to be used for the construction of a hotel and leisure complex. The council-owned recreational space on the shores of Lake Windermere is home to a mini-golf course, tennis courts and rolling parkland.
In its response to the council’s hotel and leisure complex plans, the Lake District National Park rejected the proposals in its new development blueprint, but local campaigners now want the site to be formally designated as ‘Green Space Amenity and Recreation Land’ to prevent further attempts by the South Lakes local authority to cash-in on the site in the future.
A petition has been launched calling on the council to ensure the site receives protected status.
Councillor James Airey, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Westmorland and Lonsdale. said: “The Glebe is a valuable green space in the heart of Bowness which is used by thousands of people each year. The council failed to consult residents before putting the site forward and we only know about its proposal to build a hotel and leisure complex on The Glebe because of the National Park Authority.”
Local Windermere campaigner Jane Hoyle said: “It is encouraging that National Park planners rejected the council’s attempt this time to cash-in on The Glebe. To prevent a fresh attempt in the future, however, we need to secure proper protected status for the park and I would encourage as many people as possible to sign the petition.”
People can sign The Glebe petition here.