East Yorkshire campsite refused over flooding fears despite no problems 'for 200 years'

Plans for a campsite near North Cave have been refused due to flooding, despite claims it has been safe from the problem for 200 years.

East Riding Council’s Planning Committee refused plans for the Peachy Place camping and caravan site, in Landing Lane, Newport, on Thursday (January 11). Richard Bate, speaking for the applicant, said the site had not flooded since the Market Weighton Canal was built 200 years ago, despite being in a high-risk area.

But committee member Cllr Jayne Phoenix said she felt the knowledge that it was at risk would make tourists anxious and could put them off. The site was operating but under an exemption from planning permission following an application made last year, with the one refused by councillors seeking to formalise it.

Plans for the site include a timber office, toilet and shower blocks, windbreak fencing as well as hard-standing and drainage works. They were previously backed by the council’s Western Area Planning Sub-Committee who deemed the location suitable and because of its economic benefits.

But council planning officers said it should be refused because of the risk of flooding. Mr Bate said there were no other sites available in the area which were less at risk of flooding.

An aerial view of the site proposed for Peachy Place, in Newport

He said: “This is a proposal for a modest campsite which would provide spacious pitches for camping and caravans. There is a need for additional tourism infrastructure in the East Riding especially between Hull and Goole, Peachy Place is currently the only one.

“It’s in flood risk zone three on flat land but there’s a very small difference of six inches between that and flood risk zone one. The site hasn’t flooded since the construction of the Market Weighton Canal 200 years ago.”

But Cllr Phoenix, who backed refusing the plans, said even the possibility of flooding was too much for her to support them. The committee member said: “I’m trying to imagine what it would be like to be a holidaymaker visiting this.

“If I knew that there was a real risk it was going to flood I wouldn’t want to go there. I would be anxious about it.”