MORE than 1,000 objections have been submitted in response to plans for a woodland themed holiday resort at Gulliver's World in Old Hall.

The planning application proposes woodland lodges and a caravan site in woodland to the south east of the theme park - a 15-acre green field site within Sankey Valley Park.

There are also plans for a pet resort, spa, staff headquarters, storage workshop and accommodation for school groups and clubs.

Despite Gulliver's World amending its plans to address biodiversity, Warrington residents say there will still be a loss of woodland and wildlife, as well as increased noise and traffic near its access road off Cromwell Avenue.

A spokesperson for the Callands and Westbrook Community Association, which has been spreading awareness of the plans during lockdown, explained: "We cannot allow habitat destruction, pollution and exploitation of precious woodland for commercial gain.

"The 15-acre green field site Gulliver's World owns has been part of Sankey Valley Park for decades.

"Untouched for almost 30 years in their ownership and under the jurisdiction of the Forestry Commission, it is now fenced off.

"The site lies side by side with Twig and Bog Wood owned by The Woodland Trust."

Warrington Guardian:

The spokesperson added that because of the plans, there are a selection of mature trees, vital to wildlife, which will be 'ripped out'.

Another key objection includes extra traffic affecting residents in nearby Shackleton Close.

These residents will also suffer from added noise from the pet resort.

In response to objections, Gulliver's World states that a majority of the trees in its planning area will be retained, and the resort will sit largely within the present woodland.

The development will involve planting 3,000 trees, and installing bat and bird boxes and a pond.

Addressing traffic concerns, a spokesperson for Gulliver's World said: "The highways evidence shows that even in the very worst scenario, the development would generate a maximum of only 80 additional visitors per day, in the extremely unlikely event that the resort is occupied at 100 per cent capacity all of the time.

"Of those new potential visitors, around half are shown to arrive and depart outside the morning or evening rush hour.

"This amount of traffic will be genuinely unnoticed."

Gulliver's World has also submitted a noise management plan for the pet resort.

Residents will have until July 28 to comment on the amended planning application through warrington.gov.uk/see-or-comment-planning-applications.

You can also visit gulliversworldresort.co.uk/woodland-retreat-faq.