PLANS to change the use of agricultural land at Manor Farm, Gatesheath, Tattenhall, Chester into a caravan park for 28 touring vehicles have been approved.

Cheshire West and Chester Planning Board members visited the site and were told that an original objection by the Highways Service had now been withdrawn because access off the site had been moved to one used by the nearby Tea Room operated by the owners.

However local Broxton Councillor Ann Wright told members: “Let it not be forgotten that once agricultural land disappears it is lost forever.

“I believe also that the speed and volume of traffic on the main road makes this proposal unacceptable.”

In a report Councillors were told that there had been 17 letters of objection from nearby residents and 37 letters of support.

The plans were for 17 caravan pitches located around the east, south and west boundary of the site at Manor Farm in Newton Lane, with the remaining 11 located in the centre of the site.

The proposed toilet and shower block building would be of timber construction and located in the south east corner of the site. To the north of it would be an area for bin storage and a play area would be situated in the south west corner.

Broxton Councillor and leader Mike Jones was in favour of the application and told members: “Only a few metres down the road we already have a caravan park, three hundred metres away we have the whole village of Gatesheath and I have not received any complaints.

“The impact on the road network will also be minimal.”

The planning application was approved by seven votes to one and included a number of conditions including a landscaping screen, external lighting scheme to be approved and that caravans are not parked there for a full year.