Councillors approve plans for waterside holiday park to be built near Rugby

Cllr Leigh Hunt (Con, Clifton, Newton and Churchover) said that while she was in favour of rural diversification, the site at Saxon Fields near Clifton Upon Dunsmore was not suitable for holiday homes.

Members of Rugby Borough Council’s latest planning committee [Jan 6], were considering plans to build 13 timber lodges around a pool at the site on Lilbourne Road. Landowner Peter Brotherton had already created a farm shop and cafe as well as enhancing other large areas.

Agent David Broadhead told the meeting: “He has created a nature haven converting what was previously an unusable boggy area of land into a mixture of woodland and ponds. In doing so he has planted more than 4,500 native broadleaf trees in partnership with the Woodland Trust.”

A report before the committee outlined concerns from the local parish council around the lodges being used as permanent homes, something which officers hope to address with a condition meaning a logbook is kept of who stays and for how long.

Cllr Hunt’s opposition related to the lack of nearby facilities and public transport.

She explained: “The biggest problem is the poor connectivity between this site and the surrounding areas and the lack of public transport. When people go on holiday they expect to have a good range of pubs and local facilities and to be able to go out for walks. Neither of these are possible from this location.

“The Bull in Clifton was struggling before Covid and has now been shut for some months and is unlikely to reopen in the foreseeable future if at all. The pub at Butlers Leap has also closed and is due to be redeveloped.

“The site is situated outside the village of Clifton along Lilbourne Road which has poor lighting and traffic travelling at speed. There are no footpaths so no pedestrian access to the village. Holidaymakers will not know that and are likely to be putting themselves in danger when trying to walk for recreation or access the village shop.

“There is a public right of way but this is by no means a direct route. It is also worth noting that for the most part it is nothing more than a route through fields with livestock in them and at the farm where this route meets the road there are dogs which are allowed to run free and which can be quite intimidating.

“I am all for diversification but this is not the right place for holiday accommodation.”

Councillors rejected her concerns though and unanimously approved the plans.