Concerns have been raised over a plan to build a glamping pod site at a picturesque lough in Co Fermanagh.
A planning application has been submitted to Fermanagh and Omagh District Council for the development of the 10 glamping pods and six chalets, as well as a fine dining restaurant next to Keenaghan Lough, near Belleek.
The application has been lodged on behalf of Manor Resort Ltd, owned by local businessman Robert Johnston, who say the development will bring jobs and investment to the area.
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Lisa McWilliams owns a thatched cottage which she rents out for staycations near to the lough, and is one of a number of people who have submitted objections to the planning application.
Lisa says if planning is approved for the site it would have a ‘devastating impact’ on the integrity of the area, with four important heritage assets located nearby,
“If you are unfamiliar with this area, it really is one of the few remaining unspoilt, ‘Irish Postcard’ settings left, if not on the entire island, certainly within Northern Ireland and indeed County Fermanagh,” Lisa said.
“We believe that the surrounding natural landscape and the setting in which these heritage buildings are located are every bit as important as the building itself, they both come hand in hand to creating that overall ambience which reinforces their visual and historic value.
“We are a tourism business and greatly support tourism, but not at the expense of our unique built and natural heritage.
“We believe that our heritage should always come first and tourism second. From experience within this industry these are the important factors that bring so many wonderful people, from all over the world each year to experience this great Island, North and South.
“Not only would a development in this area hugely diminish the built heritage and character of this landscape, it would also have a huge detrimental impact upon our wildlife that reside in these peaceful, undeveloped settings.”
A spokesperson for Manor Resort Ltd said that objections to the development have been led by an ‘unfounded’ social media campaign, and that it will bring jobs and investment to the area.
“This has the potential to bring in loads of jobs and investment and put this part of Fermanagh on the map,” the spokesperson said.
“Nobody had expressed any ill intent towards it until now and it appears to have gotten out of hand.
“It has been led by a social media campaign which is really unfounded. The way we are looking at it is that the heritage and other accommodation options locally will complement each other.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to have a restaurant nearby and additional activities.
“We’re really mindful of the environment and have a love for our local heritage. That’s why we have been mindful of that all along and employed an archaeologist from the beginning.
“We’re talking about £10m or £11m of investment and up to 30 jobs in the long run so we feel this is a positive news story for the area.
"We have employed numerous consultants and experts including ecologists and archaeologists, in order to develop a sensitive scheme at this site which is already an established local tourism and fishing hub."
A public consultation into the planning application is currently underway, with no decision yet made from the local council on whether it will be granted.
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