A PROPOSED multi-million pound 'leisure village' planned for Hellifield would bring a thousand more people into the village, claim objectors.

Developers Ballan Ltd want to build a leisure centre, including swimming pool, 100 bed hotel and visitor accommodation, including up to 300 lodges on Hellifield 'flashes' between the railway station and the A65.

Also proposed is parking, pedestrian access to the station, bus and coach drop off, ground modelling and water features.

The application, which was lodged last week with Craven District Council and is currently out to consultation, follows an exhibition in the village attended by around 300 people.

In its design statement submitted to the council, Ballan says 'Kellwell Point Leisure Village' is proposed for 77 acres (31 hectares) of land identified by Craven as a 'local tourism development site'.

"The proposed development represents a capital investment of circa £100 million and will create around 500 permanent employment opportunities. Importantly, it will provide greater connectivity to Hellifield train station and the Yorkshire Dales National Park."

You can see the planning support statement submitted to Craven Council here 

Ballan says the 'low lying' leisure centre will be set within the landscape to 'minimise its impact on surrounding viewpoints' and will feature pool, gym, sports hall, climbing wall, a cinema and bar/restaurant.

The proposed 100 bed hotel will be four storey, with a ground floor reception, and will also include a bar and restaurant.

An additional ''up to 300 individual lodges' will range in size from two to four bedrooms and will be set in small clusters within a landscape of trees and water features.

But objectors to the scheme say it will bring more than a thousand people into the village, will put pressure onto the roads and will impact on the varied wildlife resident on Hellifield Flashes.

A resident of Drovers Walk said traffic in the area was already bad without an extra thousand a week using the roads.

"This land should be protected, there are more than enough facilities within the surrounding area to suit peoples' needs."

Another resident of Drovers Walk doubted developers claims that the village would take three years to build and said it would result in major disruption to wildlife.

"This will discourage the permanent and migratory birds from their natural habitat and inbred routes. Decades or even centuries of migration instincts will be destroyed."

Concern is also expressed about the use of the site on current residents of both Hellifield and Long Preston.

"Why should visitors use any of the public houses in the villages, they will either use the leisure complex or drink what they bring with them."

Ballan says the 'low lying' leisure centre will be set within the landscape to 'minimise its impact on surrounding viewpoints' and will feature pool, gym, sports hall, climbing wall, a cinema and bar/restaurant.

The proposed 100 bed hotel will be four storey, with a ground floor reception, and will also include a bar and restaurant.

An additional ''up to 300 individual lodges' will range in size from two to four bedrooms and will be set in small clusters within a landscape of trees and water features.