A GEOLOGICAL conservation group has claimed there is a ‘significant risk of surface instability’ on land where plans have been lodged for a new holiday resort.

Cumbria GeoConservation Group has responded to revised plans from ILM Group for the Roanhead Lodge Resort which, developers say, could bring £10 million in additional visitor spending annually to Cumbria.

The group said the area was ‘noted for a number of shafts and flooded mine workings.’

Murray Graham, of environmental consultants Enzygo, said during an initial site walkover by a ‘suitably qualified engineer no surface reflections of underground working were identified that were not anticipated.’

New plans for the site were lodged in January with Westmorland and Furness Council after previous controversial proposals were withdrawn in November.

The new scaled-back proposals will include the installation of 233 lodges, nearly half the previously proposed 450 lodges for the site, which the developers said would ‘significantly’ reduce the number of visitors to the site and potential associated impacts on the natural environment.

Responding to the proposals Cumbria GeoConservation state: “We believe there is a significant risk of surface instability. The area is noted for a number of shafts and flooded mine workings. Shafts have opened suddenly in adjacent areas, causing serious accidents.

“The development would pose an unacceptable risk of local subsidence to the visitors to this planned major resort. In addition development may break into one of the seven caves noted under the proposed development area.”

According to developers, ‘buffer zones’ between the resort and designated nature sites have been expanded but the conservation group said the development would cause ‘unacceptable harm to the geodiversity’ of the area.

Mr Graham said: “We have examined local mining records, as part of a preliminary mining risk assessment, which gives a good baseline to understanding the potential underground mining extents at the site and during an initial site walkover by a suitably qualified engineer no surface reflections of underground working were identified that were not anticipated.

“It is important to note that the application being considered is ‘outline’ and therefore seeks approval for general principles of the proposed development.

“As part of determination of the outline application, we expect conditions to be applied that ensure a further risk assessment with appropriate ground investigation is undertaken once detailed designs are sufficiently developed.

“Following this, appropriate mitigations would be designed where necessary to ensure the site can be used safely for its intended purposes.”

The planning application is currently under consultation.