A scheme for 10 holiday homes and a new wedding venue near Ashby has narrowly been given the go-ahead - despite strong concerns about the amount of extra traffic the venture would generate.

A scheme for 10 new holiday units - and the part-conversion of an agricultural building to a wedding and function venue - was proposed for Hill Farm at Willesley Woodside, and went before North West Leicestershire District Council's planning committee on Tuesday evening.

The application was 'called in' by Ashby councillors David Bigby and Mike Ball, who were concerned about traffic and noise in what is a rural area close to the Hicks Lodge Cycle Centre.

Hill Farm is already home to the Hastings Retreat holiday homes, and applicants John and Dawn Jacques now want to add more facilities.

But Ashby de la Zouch Town Council opposed the plans, and Cllr Murrae Blair-Park said: "We object on the grounds of road safety.

"If you know the area there is a lot of traffic for Hicks Lodge, it requires far more consideration in terms of use.

Part of the Hill Farm development. Image: North West Leicestershire District Council

"The parking at Hicks Lodge is restricted, which often means there is parking along Willesley Woodside.

"This is a tourist area. It's very popular with visitors.

"The Town Council is also concerned about potential noise pollution from the proposed wedding venue.

"If this application is granted, the council would expect the following conditions: No music to be played within the site, other than in the building proposed wedding venue; the building shall be constructed in such a way that noise is minimalised; there are restricted hours for the number of events and the number of events for that venue should also be limited and agreed upon."

Willesley area resident, Frank Bedford, chairman of Willesley Environment and Protection Association, also addressed committee members.

He said: "I speak for our 179 members and other public objectors.

"Our objections relate mainly to the holding of weddings and totally unspecified types of functions - and their impact on the recreational and amenity value, tranquillity, nature and abundant wildlife of the area.

"The timing of these are likely to coincide when most visitors and local residents go to the area for these benefits. Also, to the safety of the many walkers and cyclists in the area.

A plan of the overall scheme. Image: North West Leicestershire District Council

"The adjacent Hicks Lodge had almost 96,000 registered visitors in 2022. A forest school operates there.

"The County Highways report woefully fails to consider a lack of safe routes for walkers and cyclists. The limited parking provided is based on assumptions that a significant proportion of journeys will take place by coach, taxi or car sharing - this is unenforceable, unrealistic and usually ineffective., resulting in considerable on-street parking."

But the council officer told members that Hicks Lodge had a live application proposed to increase vehicle movements by almost 930 vehicles per day on the same - yet no objections had been received.

It was pointed out that this application was designed to cater for 150 guests, once a week, adding the issue of noise was taken into account in the design of the building - and that the nearest neighbours, 500 yards away, had not objected to the scheme.

But Cllr David Bigby added: "Our major concerns are with the proposed wedding and events venue, which will negatively affect the tourism on offer and significantly damage local residential amenity.

"The disturbance for neighbours threatens to be very serious. By virtue of its localtion, being on top of a hill, its impact will extend to the more densely populated areas of Willesley, and particularly parts of Donisthorpe which is less than one kilometre away.

"It will be particularly serious if you permit 52 events per year. It threatens to disrupt the tranquillity which is key to the area for tourists.

An artist's impression of a proposed holiday lodge building. Images: North West Leicestershire District Council/Andrew Large Surveyors

"Local residents are also concerned about the safety of walkers, cyclists and horse riders. There is no safe cycle route from Ashby to Hicks Lodge."

The council officer said the venue may not necessarily hold wedding functions and could be used for corporate events.

But Cllr Ray Morris said: "I don't see the plans being intrusive to the residents in that location.

"A few more visitors won't make that much difference, I can't really see the difficulty.

"It's the sort of thing we need and encourages tourism. It's a good thing for the district to have, as long as it's controlled, and I believe the conditions are quite satisfactory."

When the application was put to the vote, it was permitted by six votes to five.