Controversial plans to extend a car park in Pooley Bridge have been withdrawn.
Agents acting for applicant J Heath proposed a 72-space new car park on land abutting the national park’s existing Eusemere car park in the centre of the village.
Portland CMS Ltd, of Carlisle, for the applicant, told the national park authority that the application had followed requests from local residents and business owners for more parking.
But others in the community called it too large, totally unnecessary and over-development.
More than 70 letters of representation flooded into the national park, some for, but many strongly against.
Among the concerns raised was that such a large car park would add further pressure to the nearby “tiny junction” opposite Granny Dowbekin’s Tea Rooms – restricting easy access for residents living close by at Heughscar Close and Eusemere Lane.
Others argued that more parking had been needed “for years” and was “desperately needed” and would help enhance the village’s facilities.
Barton and Pooley Bridge Parish Council were in support — with the scheme also bringing new toilets and an information centre to the village — but accepted that the opposition of a “small number of local residents” needed to be considered.
But the proposal, which also included parking places for disabled people, spaces for electric vehicles and coaches, has now been taken off the table.
A spokesperson for the national park confirmed: “The authority was not the applicant. The proposed parking was on private land, outside the authority’s ownership.
“The application proposed access through the authority’s land. The authority does not own any land in this area beyond the existing car park.
“Following normal publicity and consultation for the application, we received a number of representations both in support and objection of the proposals. Following feedback from our case planner the applicant chose to withdraw the application and consider their next steps.”
