A COUNCILLOR has criticised plans for the expansion of a holiday park owing to fears infrastructure in the area is already stretched to breaking point.

District councillor Fiona Hanlon says roads around Flookburgh are ‘ill-equipped’ to deal with the levels of traffic to nearby Lakeland Leisure Park.

She said that drivers queuing to get into the holiday park caused tailbacks that inhibited the people who lived and worked in the community.

“Our sewers can’t cope, our water pressure can’t cope, the parking can’t cope, the roads can’t cope and the people working in the community can’t cope,” she said.

Cllr Hanlon, who represents the Grange ward, was commenting following the submission of a planning application that was seeking permission to increase the number of pitches at the holiday park from 1,113 to 1,147.

A spokesman for Haven, which runs Lakeland Leisure Park, said: "We’re aware of concerns from the local community regarding the planning application for the redevelopment of the touring area at Lakeland holiday park.

"The proposed extension to the site will result in a small increase in static pitches and bring in a number of economic benefits for the local area.

"We will remain in dialogue with the local community and the council regarding the outcome and seek to address any issues.”

READ MORE: Permission sought for pitch increase at holiday park

A meeting was held on Monday, organised by Allithwaite and Cartmel and Lower Holker parish councils, at which the plans were discussed.

Cllr Hanlon said 30 people attended and that the room was asked if anyone agreed with the development. She said not a single person put their hand up.

“If the infrastructure was improved and put in place before the development, then perhaps the community wouldn’t be as against the development as they are,” she said.

“This peninsula – the water supply, the road infrastructure, the Victorian pipes, it’s never been altered.

“But this overdevelopment, this size of overdevelopment, renders them incapable of looking after people.”

She referred to the ‘cumulative’ effect of multiple planning applications in the area and said the council struggled to refuse planning permission due to potential costs if an appeal was made.