An holistic studio which has been used for yoga, Pilates and tai chi classes for the past five years could have to be removed.
The studio has been created inside a marquee measuring 8.8 m by 8.8 m at Hurlston Hall Golf Club, on Hurlston Lane in Scarisbrick, near Southport. It has been operating since June 2018.
Hurlston Hall Trading Ltd has put forward a number of reasons for it to be kept, including that it is used by “a high percentage of members including, over 50’s, those with restricted mobility and recovering from injury together with those suffering with mental health issues”.
The firm says that the facilities provide local employment and are used by both members and non-members.
The issue will be decided at a West Lancashire Borough Council Planning Committee meeting taking place tonight (Thursday 19th January 2023).
West Lancashire’s Planning department is urging councillors to refuse the retrospective application and to demand that the facility is removed.
The application has been called in by Cllr Fowler to “consider impact on the Green Belt and surrounding vista and over development”.
Hurlston Hall Trading Ltd outlined its proposals to the council, saying: “The holistic studio is used for yoga, Pilates and tai chi classes, which have been utilities by a high percentage of members including, over 50’s, those with restricted mobility and recovering from injury together with those suffering with mental health issues.
“This enables Hurlston to offer a wider variety of classes leading to an increase in participation levels within the area with a focus on the over 50’s category to provide a low impact workout that increases flexibility and mobility.
“The aim is to build up the level of older members and attract other instructors and classes to the site at a manageable rent. This will be open to members and non-members alike and provide a more amenable class for those who don’t feel comfortable in a gym environment.
“We currently offer in excess of 75 classes that include 20+ holistic classes on a weekly basis, this provides a valuable source of income for an additional seven specialist instructors that all work and live within the West Lancashire area.
“This scheme offers a carefully crafted and the best opportunity to secure the long-term future for the Leisure Club and the other facilities available at Hurlston. The proposed scheme is sympathetic to the site and there is minimal impact upon the Green Belt and the general character of the area as views of the site are limited.”
West Lancashire’s Planning Chief disagrees. In a report to tonight’s committee, they said: “Activities such as yoga and Pilates classes take place inside the building. The proposed use of the land is for recreational use however the recreation proposed is not an outdoor one as it requires the use of the structure which has been in place since June 2018.
“The building itself is situated in a relatively prominent location adjacent to a pond and being clearly visible from Hurlston Lane. It is considered that due to its siting, size and design the building fails to preserve the openness of the Green Belt.
“The marquee is a temporary style of building that is considered to be out of keeping with the rural location on which it has been positioned, particularly given the more open nature of the activity surrounding it.
“The proposed development is considered to be inappropriate development in the Green Belt and would have an adverse impact on its openness.”
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