by Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Residents living near the Buckland Ripers Campsite have opposed plans to extend its season by six weeks – but lost their plea on a casting vote.
They told Dorset Council’s area planning committee that late night noise and smells from barbeques and other problems affected their enjoyment of their homes in the summer.
The owners say the site is well run and guests have to sign up to a ‘code of conduct’ which prohibits noise between 10pm and 8am.
They had asked for an extension to allow camping from May 1st until the end of September, compared the existing use from May 15th until the end of August for the site, just south of Nottington Lane.
Resident Sue Bonham-Lovett said some of her neighbours had given up objecting believing that they were no longer being heard by council officers or councillors.
“It’s a lovely little place but it’s not when the campsite is open, it changes significantly and is not a quiet rural setting, which is being corroded,” she said.
Fellow resident John Perrott said with six sites along the Lane the population tripled in the summer.
He said that while the majority of campers were reasonable people there had been occasions when police had attended, with domestic disputes and residents regularly hearing loud music, with the 10pm ‘no noise’ curfew frequently ignored.
He said with barbeques allowed on the site there had often been 40 lots of smoke and cooking fumes blowing into nearby homes.
“We endure most of it, but we do complain sometimes. Residents are now apathetic because they see they are being ignored… A balance has to be struck ,” he said, asking councillors to reject the extension.
Janine Beale said that according to the council she should not hear noise from the site , but she did: “The rear of our property becomes out of bounds in the summer… the noise carries on beyond 10pm and is not policed. We have to shut our windows and suffer,” she said.
A planning agent for the owner, Mr Carpendale, said the site was in high demand, including from participants for the September Ironman event.
He said only low level light was only allowed at the toilet and shower block and campers had to agreed to the 10pm to 8am noise curfew.
He said the homes were “a considerable distance from the site” and the council’s environment officer had raised no objection.
“This is a well-managed site and contributes to Dorset’s economy,” he told councillors on the area planning committee.
Weymouth councillor Louie O’Leary said he believed camping in the Buckland Ripers area had “become a bit much” with the number of sites but said he struggled to find a reason in planning terms to object to the changes.
Upwey and Broadwey Cllr David Northam shared the view and proposed accepting the extension saying it would bring benefits to the wider area where a longer season was generally welcomed.
Cllr Kate Wheller, Rodwell and Wyke, opposed the changes, saying the residents’ views were powerful although anecdotal and should be listened to. She said the changes were against the views of Chickerell Town Council and the Neighbourhood Plan with concerns about traffic and disturbance as well as the impact on the natural environment.
Lyme Regis and Charmouth councillor Belinda Bawden said she was concerned about the cumulative impact of all the holiday sites in the area.
“The residents have not felt listened to… we should not ignore those very real concerns and the very real impact on the amenity of their homes,” she said.
Weymouth Cllr Matt Bell said without more evidence of problems he would support the officer recommendation to approve.
The committee voted 5 – 5 with the chairman, Bridport Cllr David Bolwell, using his casting vote to approve the officer recommendation to allow the extra weeks of opening.
Buckland Ripers campsite location