Viewfield Manor: Kilwinning leisure park applies to open all year

Verdant Leisure, which owns Viewfield Manor Leisure Park, have asked North Ayrshire Council to amend a condition attached to the site's operations limiting opening times to 11 months of the year.

The current site license does not permit the static caravans to be used for human habitation during the month of February in any year.

The caravan park contains just under 300 pitches which are allocated or occupied by a mixture of privately-owned caravans and short-term lets.

An application has now been made to amend or remove one of the conditions of the previous planning permission from 2002 to allow the holiday park to open year-round.

A supporting statement submitted with the application said: "The reason for the restrictive condition is not known, but there is no need for a condition to be attached to the permission which restricts opening times to the holiday park as [a separate condition] restricts the use of the caravans as permanent residencies; as such, the restriction on occupancy to 11 months of the year is not required."

The applicants said that by allowing Viewfield Manor to be open for 12 months of the year, the holiday park will be able to "compete with others on a level basis".

The supporting statement added: "This change will support the economic sustainability of the park and nearby local businesses in the area which are reliant on the leisure and tourism industry.

"By allowing the holiday village to open for 12 months of the year, the local area and economy will benefit from it, thus promoting economic activity and sustainable development.

"Furthermore, the opening of the park for an additional month as opposed to the current 11 months would create a minimal impact on the local area in terms of traffic generation and pressure on local amenities and infrastructure.

"The requirement for the previous condition is unjustified and not needed."