Plans for holiday lodges in Netherseal have been rejected - after concerns were raised about the potential pollution of the protected River Mease.

At a South Derbyshire District Council meeting last night (Tuesday) councillors rejected plans from Mr and Mrs Zile for six holiday lodges on land off Clifton Road.

The council received 20 objection letters from residents and Netherseal Parish Council also opposed the scheme, which included a reception lodge and wastewater cesspool.

An opposing resident speaking at the meeting said the planned cesspool may need emptying as frequently as every six days and that this would not provide enough time to arrange for it to be emptied without overflowing.

He said there were not any streetlights on the route to the lodge site and that this would put pedestrians "in harm's way".

They said: "There are many other sites nearby and with better access, this site is not needed."

Cesspools are only supported by the Environment Agency as a "last resort," he said.

A council report on the application states that the Environment Agency believes the use of a cesspool for waste waster is the "least sustainable" option and must be heavily monitored to avoid "overtopping" and emptied outside of the Mease catchment.

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This would include an alarm which would notify site management when the cesspool needed to be emptied.

James Matley, agent for the applicants, said expanding tourist facilities in the National Forest should be supported.

He said the site - around 15 minutes' driver from Ashby de la Zouch - would provide "high quality" lodges made of timber and stone and include the use of renewable energy.

Mr Matley said the scheme would "deliver much-needed tourism development and boost the rural economy".

Cllr Amy Wheelton said the issue was "finely balanced" and would come down to local knowledge of councillors.

She said the road past the site has been routinely flooded for the past 10 years and "for 10 months of the year is a foot underwater".

Cllr Wheelton said: "There are no services nearby, no bus services, no pub. We would be approving seven chimneys in a field. 

"There will be a red light on the cesspool when it is full but you still have to get a lorry and doing that weekly is not sustainable."

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She said Natural England had not objected but not "endorsed" the scheme, by detailing a cesspool would prevent a "likely significant effect" on the River Mease.

Cllr Wheelton said: "There is a reason there are no houses in some parts of this area, you can't have any run-off. This is the wrong site, it is the wrong place and everyone would have to drive."

Cllr Gareth Jones said: "There are walks nearby but you really need to know where you are going, it is in the middle of nowhere. You will have cars going here, there and everywhere and it does not add any real value."

Cllr Andrew Kirke said: "The cesspool would need emptying at least monthly or fortnightly and the applicant saying it would need emptying quarterly is a pie in the sky calculation.

"The cesspool overtopping is a risk to the River Mease." 

Cllr Grahame Andrew said: "I am not surprised that Derbyshire County Council highways have not found any particular problem with this, the road is massively potholed and seemingly uncared for.

"We are being asked to ignore our environmental policies for our economic position and we need to prioritise the environment.

"We do support tourism development in the countryside but there are other places this can be done and this is not the right site."

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Councillors rejected the application by a vote of nine in favour and three abstaining due the "isolated, unsustainable and inappropriate" location.