A DECISION on plans to build a three-bedroom home for touring caravan site managers to live and work in has been delayed.

Joanne Greening wants permission to build the property and a shop along with parking and landscaping improvements on land at Seven Valley Touring at Awre in the Forest of Dean.

She spoke of how the proposals are vital for the business to grow during Forest of Dean District Council’s planning committee meeting on February 14.

The growth of the business would be thwarted by the absence of onsite accommodation and customers said they would prefer an onsite manager, she told councillors.

She also said an accessible cafe and shop would also benefit the wider village and that the building was of a sustainable and high quality design. She called on the committee to approve the scheme.

“Long before the stay-cation we established a genuine family-run business. Severn Valley Touring is a long established site which attracts a high number of tourists into the Severn vale,” Mrs Greening said.

“Initially seasonal, we have been open all year round since 2020.”

The proposals are supported by the parish council, villagers and ward councillor Nicky Packer (G, who spoke in favour of the plans at the meeting in Coleford.

But there was strong opposition from officers who said there was no essential need for the new property.

They said that a business of that scale, with 16 pitches, would not require the managers to live on site. And that the plans, which are not in proportion to its use, would farm the character and appearance of the area, they explained.

Councillors were overwhelmingly supportive of the scheme and proposed granting permission. However, planning officers said their reasons were not strong enough for the council to deviate from their policy.

Chairman Philip Burford (I, Hartpury and Redmarley) said: “The view of the committee is quite clear and I would like to help.

“But the problem is from my planning experience and having sat her for six years, I can’t see a reason here that makes it unique to go outside of policy.

“I’m very sorry for that. I wish there was. We’ve seen applications like this on many occasions and for the same reasons we’ve had to say no.

“We have a proposal here for a house in the open countryside that will serve to a limited degree the needs of a campsite. But the person who is going to live in that dwelling is already pretty close to the campsite.”