Glamping pods controversy

PLANS for creating glamping pods near a village primary school have been strongly opposed by local residents. Proposals have been submitted to Dumfries and Galloway Council for six glamping pods to be installed within a field at Bankfield Farm in Glenluce, which is close to Glenluce Primary. The applicant, Kenneth McKinstry, is seeking planning permission for a small scale visitor accommodation, and has taken steps to try and minimise disturbance to neighbours. However, 15 residents who live near the site have lodged objections with the council’s planning department. Council planning papers explain that the location is a greenfield site currently designated for grazing, however Bankfield Farm is no longer a working farm. The spot where the pods would be located is accessed via a field gate off Bankfield Road which terminates at a shared private way. Glenluce Primary School lies to the west, while private houses including the former Schoolhouse, are close to the field. Each of the glamping pods would feature an external timber decked area with seating and a hot tub for guests. Further details were provided by Mr McKinstry’s planning agent, Edwin Adamson, who wrote: “The applicant has chosen to mix and match the pods, which have outdoor amenities such as decks and hot tubs, so that noise pollution between the pods themselves is minimised and has opted to include a very limited external lighting arrangement to avoid nuisance at night to the occupants of the pods or the surrounding domestic accommodation. “The development is intended to have the least impact it can have on the current location, or at least as little impact as any new development can in a rural setting, is intended to be light touch to be congruent with current planning policy and has little or no impact on surrounding neighbours and offers little or no land use conflict issues.” The objections from neighbours centre around road traffic issues, the potential for antisocial behaviour and overlooking, and concerns around child safeguarding with the close proximity of the site to the primary school. One objector wrote: “The proposal is located in direct vicinity to Glenluce Primary School. Contrary to the application, the school’s greenery does not provide adequate screening and is deciduous. “Due to the site’s elevation over the school, the school grounds and the school building are easily overlooked. This raises serious safeguarding concerns due to the number of visitors of the proposed glamping site and the possibility of overlooking the school grounds and playing children.” Worries were also shared around noise and air pollution, and it was claimed that the proposal does not align with local and national policy in terms of tourism. Council planning case officer Iona Brooke is recommending that the application is refused. She stated: “It is not compatible with the character and amenity of Glenluce and it conflicts with the established surrounding land uses in this location due to the nature of the tourism activity proposed.” However, councillors will weigh up all arguments and make a decision at this week's planning committee.

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