Barrow and Furness Liberal Democrats have joined the campaign to 'save Roanhead'.

The group have laid out their reasons in a letter written to Westmorland & Furness Council to oppose a major planning application for a new £100m holiday lodge.

The letter states: "The proposed holiday park, covering 55 hectares, would be dangerously close to the nature reserve and is entirely the wrong location for the holiday resort development.

"It is far too close to such an important site for wildlife, and would impact adversely on this national designated breeding site for both natterjack toads and other wildlife and plant life."

The party has listed the following reasons why it objects to the planning application-

• It will have a negative impact on landscape character, including tranquillity.

• Have a negative visual impact.

• Create light pollution, impacting on dark skies and biodiversity.

• Have a negative impact on species and habitats.

• Have a negative impact on enjoyment by local people of an important, much-valued, and accessible recreational resource.

• Have damaging traffic impacts on narrow local roads and a lack of sustainable transport.

• Be built on unstable land that is littered with former mine workings that have resulted in several sink holes opening locally, including in recent years.

David Opie, chair of Barrow & Furness Liberal Democrats said that: "Roanhead is a beautiful area of unspoilt and undeveloped coast on the Duddon Estuary north of Barrow-in-Furness, by Sandscale Haws National Nature Reserve.

"It is internationally important, the jewel in the crown of Furness and a very special place for diverse wildlife.

"It is not an appropriate place for a large scale development such as this.

"Barrow & Furness Liberal Democrats are all in favour of encouraging economic development and tourism in the area but they consider that this plan will not bring economic benefits to Barrow and would have unacceptable costs for the environment."

The National Trust, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, the Woodland Trust and many local people have also objected to the scheme.

Although the official deadline for raising objections with the council has now passed, there is still a chance to have your say with the local authority still accepting objections.

These can be sent to planning1@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk.