Rural community concerns over Scotland’s first Center Parcs

An increasing number of farmers and other rural residents in the Borders have raised objections to plans for Scotland’s first Center Parcs holiday village.

A planning application was submitted during the summer for the £350m development outside Hawick.

The proposals, which would create 1,200 permanent jobs, have been welcomed by community, tourism and business leaders, but some of those who live next to the proposed site have concerns around noise pollution and increased traffic.

Center Parcs said it had addressed all concerns during an eight-month consultation process, and said it had invited objectors to visit another of its sites to see how it worked with rural communities.

Almost 30 objections have now been presented to planners at Scottish Borders Council.

Merlin Lewis, who has lived all his life on the family farm which neighbours the 988-acre (400 ha) Center Parcs site, said: “It can’t be understated how this will affect the viability of our farm or other farms around here on so many levels.”

He added: “This is going to have a devastating impact on our family home and the homes of our neighbours.

“Life here will never be the same again.”

He said the Borders needed investment, but claimed a private enterprise would not deliver benefits to the area.

The proposed development includes 700 holiday lodges and a large indoor pool complex, as well as a vast array of other dining and leisure facilities.

A perimeter fence would be erected around the entire site with new entrances linking with the A7 trunk road.

Although a series of recent consultation events at nearby towns and villages have been met with enthusiastic support for the proposals, there is growing dissent within the more immediate community.

As well as noise and light pollution for the nearest neighbours, concerns have been raised about additional traffic on surrounding roads with the site expected to attract about 350,000 visitors a year.

Objections relating to increased flood risk, loss of wildlife habitats and right-to-roam restrictions have also been submitted.

Marion Livingston, from nearby Bewlie, said: “While I am not against a holiday park development, this proposal for a semi-urban development is vastly out of scale for what is a green field site in the Scottish Borders’ gently rolling countryside.

“The entire development will be visually intrusive from many iconic viewpoints across the southern Scottish Borders.”

Merlin Lewis’ mother, Arabella, runs her cut-flower business from her home next to the site.

She said: “We were totally gobsmacked when we first heard the announcement about Center Parcs – it meant that we were going to have to rethink our lives.

“It is so peaceful and quiet around here – but we are now facing three years of building work in the fields over there, and when it’s up and operating the noise will be relentless.”

Center Parcs said it had addressed all of the concerns during its consultation process.

It said it had reviewed where lodges were located and planned to put in place additional screening.

The company said it had also invited all of the site’s neighbours to its other holiday villages to see how they operated alongside communities.

A spokesperson said: “As part of the planning process, we have carried out detailed assessments on issues such as transport, flooding, water supply and noise, working closely with the relevant authorities.

“These assessments are now being reviewed by public bodies including Transport Scotland and Scottish Water, before a decision is taken by Scottish Borders Council in due course.

“Should our application be approved, we are fully committed to maintaining an open and constructive dialogue with our neighbours and the wider community, and to continue building positive, long-term relationships.”

In July, chief executive Colin McKinlay said the company had “listened carefully” to what the community had to say about its plans.

A decision on the full planning application is expected before the end of the year.