A PLANNING dispute between a holiday park near Workington and a nearby resident who built an 'earth privacy bund' between them has been settled by planners who have allowed the structure to remain.

A statement submitted by JTS Architectural Services on behalf of Mr Wedgewood said he was left with 'no other option' but to create a 5.7-metre (maximum) high bund between his property and Grasmoor View park.

Mr Wedgewood claimed that the ground level of the park was higher than that agreed when planning permission for the park was granted.

Mr Wedgewood then became the subject of attention from Cumberland Council planning enforcement officers as he had not applied for permission to create the bund.

The bund also became the subject of several official objections.

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One said: "Completely tasteless and dangerous 15 feet high dirt wall built by Mr Wedgewood right next to our lodges without any regard to the harms caused by his action to the lodge owners in the park."

The decision report compiled by planners noted other concerns raised including restriction of views, calling the bund an 'eyesore', and owners now not being able to add decking.

Comments also claimed that the bund attracts vermin and was beginning to collapse, causing safety issues.

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Several objections also raised concerns about setting a 'precedent for others to undertake illegal construction projects', should a retrospective application be approved.

The decision report said: "Given that the bund has a grassed finish, the views of the bund are taken alongside the open land adjacent and provide screening to the tourism site beyond, such that the bund does not appear visually jarring within the landscape setting."

Regarding objections related to decking, it said: "The application site and area for development are all outside the tourism site, set back from the boundary between Grasmoor View and the adjoining land.

"It is therefore considered that the presence of the bund would not prevent further development and enhancement of the site at Grasmoor View."

The bund was approved with the condition that Mr Wedgewood implements a scheme of 'hard and soft landscaping', no later than three months from the date of approval.