South Downs holiday lodges and campsite plans given go-ahead

Applicants Peacebound Ltd were asking members of the HDC development control south committee to renew the permission for plans at the former Tabby Cat site in Cowfold Road, West Grinstead. They were approved some years ago, but not followed through.

But councillors questioned the viability of such a business there.

Ray Dawe (Con, Chantry) said: “It does strike me an odd site to have this business.”

Brian Donnelly (Con, Pulborough and Coldwaltham) said: “I notice what [one of the speakers] said about the fact the original application has not been executed. I wonder if he has a point. How long do we go on renewing an application when the applicant has not made any effort to do anything about it?”

But Gordon Lindsay said: “We have got to think about someone living in Liverpool and coming to the South Downs to stay here.”

Planning permission was granted for the eight lodges, a management block, washing facilities, parking, a ranger’s office. Each of the holiday lodges would be powered through solar panels and there would be a sun pipe to the bathrooms at the centre of the site.