Three parish councils affected by the plan to create an 850-metre luge run and visitor attraction at Blaze Fell, near Armathwaite, are to make formal objections.
On Tuesday, Ainstable parish councillors decided to object to the application made by landowner Charles Lowther and businessman Daniel Holder for the luge run, chairlift and glass-sided two-storey reception building with parking for more than 100 cars at 725ft above sea level on the top of the fell.
There have also been objections from Lazonby Parish Council, in whose area Blaze Fell, at Nord Vue Farm, is situated, and Hesket Parish Council which agreed to support Lazonby in its objection.
Ainstable Parish Council held an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday after calls from local objectors to discuss the application which has attracted huge opposition from Eden residents and from people living outside the area.
Eden District Council has received more than 300 objections from individuals and organisations, including the Friends of the Lake District and Cumbria Wildlife Trust, as well as stipulations from other bodies, including United Utilities, for surveys and assessments to be carried out.
The Ainstable meeting was attended by around 50 people from the parish and beyond, four of whom spoke at the meeting about the objections to the application on what was described as a “gateway” to the Eden Valley.
Among the objectors at the meeting were Lazonby parish councillors, chairman Christine West and Andrew Miller who said he feared an eventual Center Parcs-type of development at Nord Vue.
Issues raised by objectors included whether the current road system will cope with the 256 cars a day to the luge estimated by the developers, potential drainage problems from the site and the sewerage arrangements, and the damage to the environment and wildlife from creating the luge run alone with an estimated 710 tonnes of concrete and 1,600 tonnes of hardcore and concrete — as well as the operation of the visitor attraction.
Developers say they have carefully considered the location of the luge track, and shuttle buses will run to minimise the impact of cars.
Read more about the for and against arguments for the luge track here.
