SCORES of residents in a South Derbyshire village are set to be defeated in their attempts to prevent the controversial building of eight log cabins from going ahead.
The plan surrounds the application which was first submitted three years ago to construct a tourist site on land in Netherseal, which caused uproar among the village’s residents.
Around 170 people have objected to the plan along with the village’s parish council, citing a host of reasons including the impact it would have on the countryside.
The plan, which would see eight cabins built at Gunby Farm, has also been held up by a number of legal issues, with one of the main bugbears being what effect it would have on the River Mease, which is subject to protection from developments deemed to pose a risk of harm to it.
In 2011, a barrister’s report raised concerns about the potential to create a harmful effect to the River Mease Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
However, that part of the plan has now been amended and will include the use of a sealed-tank system for the collection and discharge of waste from the site, and prevent any toxins from escaping into the river.
That crucial amendment to the plan looks to have been enough to finally convince council planners to give the plan to green light.
A statement on behalf of the applicant said: “The net result will be that sewage discharged from the proposed development via this process will not have any direct or indirect pathway to the River Mease SAC and will be discharged at a location outside the River Mease catchment area where there will be no effect on the River Mease.”
A report from South Derbyshire District Council’s planning committee said: “The proposal would meet an identified need for tourist accommodation in The National Forest. Being located between existing and built development, the impact on the character of the countryside would be acceptable.
“The local planning authority has worked positively and proactively with applicants, based on seeking solutions to the SAC-related problems.”
