Last updated 13:59, Friday, 21 November 2008

PLANNERS have approved a new car park at a Broughton guest house.

The parking area at Garner House, in Church Street, would provide four parking spaces, an increase of two on the existing provision in the car port.

Cumbria Highways raised no objection to the request, which was passed by the Lake District National Park Authority.

Planning officer Andrew Smith pointed out that the existing access to Garner House was poor in terms of visibility and at present vehicles have to enter or leave the car port in reverse.

He said the proposed scheme would allow all vehicles to enter and leave the site forwards.

Mr Smith added that the scheme would have “a negligible impact” on the Broughton Conservation Area as the site was extremely well screened. Apart from the removal of the rear of the car port, public views of the site would remain unchanged.

He pointed out that the scheme would provide additional parking ‘to facilitate the bed and breakfast use of this property’ and this increased provision would ‘serve to reduce parking pressures elsewhere and also increase highway safety’.

It would have ‘no detriment to the character and visual amenity of the area’. It therefore accorded with policy and was acceptable.

On that basis he recommended its approval with conditions, and that was confirmed by the head of development management.