Road safety improved through fresh plans for Northumberland caravan park

Last May, a scheme to upgrade Acton Caravan Park, near Felton, was approved by the North Northumberland Local Area Council.

Councillors had deferred the decision the month before to go on a site visit before agreeing to the application, for three touring van pitches, three glamping pod pitches, two camping pitches, a treehouse and a lodge.

That scheme had prompted 25 letters of complaint and eight letters of support, with the objections chiefly based on road safety, but the county council’s highways department had raised no objections – subject to conditions, which included putting in passing places.

At last Thursday’s (February 21) meeting, members of the committee unanimously approved amended proposals for five camping pods, two cabins, a lodge and a treehouse.

The site has a reduced length of internal road to serve the accommodation, with a parking area now proposed and access to the lodges, pods and cabins via footpaths.

Coun Trevor Thorne, the area’s ward councillor, moved approval, saying: “We had a good look at this last time. Generally, Acton Lane to this development is greatly improved in terms of visibility.”

Coun Gordon Castle joked that he was happy to second it, ‘if someone can tell me what a glamping pod is!’

Coun Jeff Watson said: “I remember this one from before and the concerns about the access.

“There are no touring caravans now so it’s only going to be a better situation than when we approved it before.”

Coun Guy Renner-Thompson added: “I agree. Road safety was the main concern last time. Taking out touring caravans can only make it safer.”

The report to councillors explained that the new application also aimed to agree some of the details from the previous approval, such as the proposed off-site highway works, including the passing places, and drainage.

By contrast to last year’s scheme, there had been just two objections submitted this time round, although they still related to highway safety.

The council’s highways team stated that there have been no recorded road traffic incidents within 600 metres of the proposed access to the site in the previous five years.

Ben O'Connell, Local Democracy Reporting Service