Locals in Cornish seaside hotspot are furious over a neighbour’s plans to build glamping pods in their back garden, that will ‘kill the village’ and cause parking chaos.
The planning application to construct two of these pods, each with a capacity to sleep four people in the garden of the Bewshea’s restaurant in Downderry, Cornwall was approved by the council this week despite objections from residents.
The pods which are larger than a standard shipping container stand at 11ft high and 23ft long, will be a few feet from neighbouring homes and flats.
Cornwall Council approved the pods, overruling objections from ten residents and Deviock Parish Council which called the proposals entirely inappropriate for a residential area in the centre of the village.
One neighbour told : ‘It’s beyond belief that they are allowing that to be put there.
‘They are just killing our village, we are losing everything but residents don’t have a voice on anything.’
The planning application to construct two of these pods, each with a capacity to sleep four people in the garden of the Bewshea’s restaurant in Downderry, Cornwall
One of the proposed pods which can sleep up to four people
Downderry, Cornwall is a popular tourist hotspot in the summertime
Stephen Buttall, 67, said: ‘This will just add to the infrastructure problems we already have plus the designs are totally out of keeping with the historic area of the village’
Stephen Buttall, 67, said: ‘There is absolutely no parking whatsoever in the summer. Access to the site is up an uneven set of steps.
‘This will just add to the infrastructure problems we already have plus the designs are totally out of keeping with the historic area of the village.’
The pods will be fully decked out with a fitted interior, including a double bed, a three seater sofa which can be converted into bunk beds, a loo and a shower.
They also have a kitchen area with a fridge and a cooking stove, as well as radiators for heating and sockets to charge devices from.
There is a porch outside the pod with lighting and seating.
Jean Crisp, 61, said: ‘It’s beyond belief that they are allowing that to be put there.
‘They are just killing our village, we are losing everything but residents don’t have a voice on anything.
‘We don’t have the road infrastructure for all these holiday properties and Airbnbs.
‘In the summer the road gets so bad a four minute drive to the nearest shop took me 25 minutes and I had to reverse another lady’s car.
The pods which are larger than a standard shipping container stand at 11ft high and 23ft long, will be a few feet from neighbouring homes and flats
‘They have also done nothing about improving the water and electricity infrastructure, we’ve had power outages for two or three days. They haven’t taken into account local infrastructure.’
The village in south east Cornwall – which boasts a large sheltered beach and is close to the popular fishing town of Looe has become a huge hit with tourists in recent years.
One local, whose home backs onto the site, mocked the idea of glamping in a busy village centre.
She said: ‘I’m not in favour of it at all. The last thing we need here is glamping pods. If they want to do glamping, why in the middle of the village and not in the fields up the road?
‘What we are talking about isn’t exactly helpful for people locally.
‘The access for the pods is also up some narrow stone steps which isn’t exactly child friendly.’
Jean Crisp, 61, said: ‘It’s beyond belief that they are allowing that to be put there’
The tiny grassy plot of unused land behind Bewshea’s Restaurant, in Downderry
The planning application was opposed by ten residents. Stock image of Downderry, Cornwall
Downderry Cornwall. Mark Andrews, agent for the applicant, said the glamping pods would serve the demand for visitors to Downderry and its beach in the summer
In a message to planners, Rosemary Stevenson wrote: ‘My flat looks out directly onto the top part of the site and due to the differences of ground level anyone in the garden can look into the windows of the flat.
‘Glamping is normally sited in a field in farmland. This is a garden in the centre of a village.
‘Each pod can accommodate four people. I am concerned that the noise from people staying here will adversely affect the flat.
‘Parking is a year round issue for those of us living in the centre of the village.’
Another local revealed cars navigating small lanes is a big problem in the village and vehicles including her own have been damaged: ‘The plan is to put it right at a junction where parking is an issue.
‘When we moved here 20 years ago it was a vibrant community but we have already lost the shop and we might lose the pub.
‘It’s a lovely place and it’s great people want to come and enjoy it but the price the community pays is substantial.’
But Mark Andrews, agent for the applicant, said the glamping pods would serve the demand for visitors to Downderry and its beach in the summer, and would help village facilities such as its shop and restaurant.
He said the scheme had been revised following concerns by the parish council to ensure there would be no overlooking of nearby properties.
The committee approved the plan by eight votes in favour and two against.
Cornwall Council have been approached for comment.