MORE than 250 people attended a public meeting over plans to create a holiday village with 78 log cabins in Delamere Forest.
Campaign group Communities Against Delamere’s Destruction (CADD) – which is opposed to the log cabin development as well as a separate plan to create a new visitor ‘hub’ at the Cheshire beauty spot – organised the meeting at Manley Village Hall on Friday evening.
Lead campaigner Nigel Gilding opened the meeting which was attended by Delamere project manager Andrea Peattie and Adrian Burn from Forest Holidays – who both answered questions from the audience – as well as members of the public and representatives of four parish councils.
Issues raised on the night included the impact on the forest wildlife by the proposed holiday village in Kingswood, public access, and increased traffic and parking.
Concerns were also raised about planning precedence with people fearing further development if the holiday village was to get the go-ahead.
Mr Gilding said: “There seems to have developed in the Delamere Project proposals a desire to compete with other tourist attractions and offer what has become known as ‘an experience’.
“The people behind these plans for Delamere and those whose decision it is to give planning permission would do well to remember that the wild, untouched nature of the place is the experience.”
The two proposed developments were unveiled by the Forestry Commission at the end of last month as part of its masterplan to transform the facilities on offer at Delamere Forest.
As well as a log cabin development at Kingswood – which would be built by Forest Holidays – plans have also been drawn up to create a new visitor centre, restaurant and retail units and a car park with 300 spaces.
Project manager Andrea Peattie claims an economic impact study showed each cabin would generate £35,000 per year for the local economy.
Public consultation over the plans is due to last until March 31. To have your say email delamereconsultation@forestry.gsi.gov.uk or write to The Forest Manager, Delamere Forest, Linmere, Delamere, Cheshire, CW8 2JD.
See letters on page 38.
