2 minute read
All-weather parking plan for stately home
The National Trust has submitted a planning application relating to visitor access and parking improvements at Belton House in Lincolnshire.
The plans submitted to South Kesteven District Council state the trust wants to solve drainage issues in the car park by providing a new all-weather parking layout.
The trust also wants to introduce electric vehicle charging points and erect ticket kiosks that will allow people to pay for their visits in the car park.
The new proposals replace a plan to introduce a one-way system using the Lion Gates as an entrance to the National Trust mansion.
The National Trust had intended visitors at Belton House to arrive through the reopened Lion Gate, near Grantham, and use a one-way system around the property.
However this idea prompted complaints from local residents worried about increased amounts of traffic. This plan was withdrawn in March after consultation with highways, the parish council and the public.
The new plan proposes using the existing entrance to the property near Belton village. Planning documents submitted to South Kesteven District Council read: “All vehicles will arrive via the existing vehicle access point from Belton village, north of the house and stables. Once south of the house, all vehicles will take the western road through the site.”
The road would be widened to enable coaches to reverse into parking bays and then leave by the same route.
It is envisaged that people arriving by car will purchase tickets from two new kiosks without having to leave their vehicles. The documents state: “This will allow visitors to explore the park and house at their leisure once parked, without the need to make their way to the visitor reception building to purchase tickets.”
The new ticketing procedure will allow the visitor reception to be turned into a access hub, which will provide toilets close to the car park. Existing accessible parking spaces that are close to the access hub and children’s play area would be retained, and there will be space for eight electric vehicles to recharge.
Improvements to surface water drainage around the site will create an all-weather car park to replace the current one which gets water-logged.
The application said: “The proposals will provide improved visitor access to the site. The car park re-surfacing will provide a permanent solution to current car park issues which have led to drainage problems, unsightly damage to the parking area and created access issues for those with buggies and mobility issues. The visitor experience will be further enhanced through provision of improved accessible facilities, including changing places, WCs and rationalisation of pedestrian routes to aid in orientation and understanding of the site.”
When the original one-way plans were withdrawn in March, Ian Cooper, manager of Belton House, said: “We haven’t taken the decision lightly. It’s the right decision based on finding the balance between continuing with the submission and seeing what happens, and taking into account the concerns that have been raised and maintaining those community relationships.
“It took months of discussion and consultation before we submitted the plan and it was deemed at the time the best option available. However, another key part of my responsibility is to build strong relationships with the community, so responding decisively and positively to the concerns that have been raised seemed the right thing to do.”