Pentney Lakes Leisure Park swimming pool and spa plans are rejected
Proposals to build a new swimming pool and spa at a popular tourist spot have been turned down.
A planning application from Jolanta Zuke had sought permission to construct a “swim spa” in a garden building at Pentney Lakes Leisure Park.
This would have served a log cabin on one of a number of plots of land recently purchased by the holiday site - but West Norfolk Council has rejected the proposals.
The authority’s planning officers have said that not enough evidence has been provided to prove that the pool would not harm the surrounding lakes.
“The applicant has failed to demonstrate that the proposal would adequately deal with foul water drainage which could lead to drainage issues in the locality and pollution of the groundwater and the adjacent lake,” a report said.
A design and access statement submitted as part of the application had argued that the plans were in keeping with the character of the area.
“The impact on the local area is not relevant and there is an existing established use on site for similar properties,” it added.
However, a number of concerns were raised during the consultation process.
An ecologist highlighted the lakes’ importance as a habitat for birds, vegetation and grassland.
“The proposed development is close to the lake edge and has the potential to damage fringing vegetation on the bankside,” they said.
“Presumably the swimming pool will require chemical dosing, and these chemicals could potentially end up leaching into Pentney Lakes and causing damage to the habitat and species using that habitat.”
Norfolk Wildlife Trust also objected, while a community safety and neighbourhood nuisance team said that the applicant “failed to show how appropriate foul drainage will be achieved for the backwash and drain down of the swim spa”.
Documents suggest that the pool has already been constructed despite not having planning permission, and worries stem from where chemicals end up after it is drained.
Planning officers said there had been “no clarification regarding whether the pool would be emptied periodically” for cleaning or maintenance.
“The application site is located on the edge of one of these lakes and has the potential to cause pollution of the environment and a detrimental impact upon ecology,” their report added.
“Insufficient information has been submitted to demonstrate that the proposed swimming pool would not have a detrimental impact upon the County Wildlife Site.
“It is not clear from the information submitted whether there will be a necessity to use chemicals to clean the pool, or what would happen to the water if maintenance was required, and the pool needed to be drained.”
The application was refused last Thursday.