THE verdict on controversial plans for a 150 space car park in the Lake District has been deferred and will be made at a later date.

Plans for a 150 space car park at Ullock Moss, complete with toilet block and a shuttle bus turning facility, were deferred by the Lake District National Park Authority on Wednesday.

The LDNPA's Development Control Committee was set to consider the controversial planning application but voted to put off making a decision until members have visited the site.

A decision is now expected at a meeting on December 1.

A crowd of objectors and supporters gathered at the authority's headquarters in Kendal. The polarising planning application for Portinscale has seen 325 objections and 341 letters of support.

Concern about the plans has been expressed in a joint statement by leading environmental organisations: Friends of the Lake District, Campaign for National Parks, the National Trust, Cumbria Wildlife Trust and more.

The statement said: "This development would set a precedent that would have a major bearing on the wider future of the Lake District, what it will look like and what it will become - and other National Parks - and we urge the Lake District National Park Authority's Development Control Committee to reject this proposal."

They said: "Whilst we very much recognise the need to address ongoing and growing issues relating to parking and vehicle numbers in the Portinscale and Catbells area, this proposal is not an appropriate solution."

Campaign groups behind the statement feel that the plan contradicts policy regarding development in the open countryside as well as efforts to reduce the amount of cars on Lake District roads.

Cumbria County Council member for Keswick Tony Lywood is in support of the plans, which he believes will mitigate issues with parking and gridlocked roads during Summer months when visitors flock to the Lake District.

Councillor Lywood said: "My position is very clear, we have to manage cars coming into the Lake District. I have always advocated a charge to any cars coming into the Lake District but given the fact we have a huge number of cars we need to make provision for those cars.

"The temporary 56 day car parks under Cat Bells were amazingly successful."

He said: "We have to deal with the number of people who come into the Lake District, there's no point in burying our head in the sand and pretending it's not happening while the roads get clogged."

Michael Anderton of Lingholm Private Trust submitted the application which is being handled by Crosby Granger Architects as the agent.

In their Heritage Design and Access Statement, the applicant pointed out that there could be "in excess of 150 vehicles on the side of the road during busy times. Due to minimal local parking facilities and some traffic regulation orders, the road is regularly reduced to one lane with many vehicles parked at junctions, farm access ways, passing places and where the road widens."