A LIAISON group has been formed to monitor the progress of a new holiday park and golf complex in East Yorkshire.

The ‘Allerthorpe Golf and Park Retreat’ is being developed on the edge of Allerthorpe village near Pocklington by Park Leisure and will eventually see up to 150 lodge-type holiday homes on the site, along with a nine-hole golf course, a clubhouse and restaurant. The first holidaymakers are due to arrive in time for Easter, next year.

Approval for the scheme was only granted after a lengthy public consultation and planning process, which attracted objections from many residents in the village and some local councillors.

The liaison group will consist of Wendy Sockett, planning consultant to Park Leisure, Philip Wiltshire, chairman of Allerthorpe Parish Council, a senior planning officer from the East Riding of Yorkshire Council and local ward councillor Mike Stathers.

It will provide regular progress reports on the development and will act as a forum where residents’ concerns can be raised.

Cllr Stathers said: “Liaison groups are commonplace when such major developments are taking place and especially where local opposition to the scheme has been so vociferous, as was the case at Allerthorpe.

“Residents understandably remain concerned about the potential impact the development might eventually have on the village but this group will go some way to inform the community and hopefully reassure them that the developer has their interests at heart.

“It will be our job to make sure this remains the case all the way through the construction phase.”

Preparation is currently underway to establish an access point for construction traffic adjacent to the Manor Farm track and the creation of a site compound with staff welfare facilities and construction parking. Phase one of the scheme will start in January and will involve the provision of the first 38 pitches along with associated infrastructure and landscaping.

Cllr Stathers has requested Park Leisure to arrange an open day for local residents to view the development once phase one has been completed.

In the meantime, any concerns should be directed to the developer and the liaison group through the parish council.