Mixed views on camping pods in the heart of Hamsterley Forest

A BID to build wooden camping pods in the heart of Hamsterley Forest has brought a mixed reception.
Applicant Graham Turner wants to build four tourist huts complete with their own “bio-digesters” in the back garden of a former bed and breakfast in Redford.
But a neighbour and councillors have questioned the visual impact the pods could have.
County councillor Heather Smith revealed her privacy concern and worries over “sewage arrangements” in a letter to Durham County Council.
She added: “Insufficient information is included in the application to reassure us that there will be no contamination of the beck.”
The need for trees to be felled to make way for a car park and the potential for noise were other sticking points for Cllr Smith.
Firm objections have also come from South Bedburn Parish Council, which wants to see the pods elsewhere in Hamsterley Forest.
In a statement to planners, clerk Vicky Chilcott said: “The parish council shares residents’ concerns that their water supplies might be affected.
“The parish council is also aware that camping pods, in this position, would be an intrusion to the amenity and privacy of existing residents at the Grove.”
Fears of damage to exotic specimen trees were also aired. However, not all neighbours were against the pods. Janice King, who lives in the hamlet, thought the pods would offer a welcome tourist boost.
She said: “I think it’s a good idea – we get a lot of bikers who want a bed for the night. The government is trying to promote tourism and people might want to stop for the night with Kynren at Bishop Auckland. If we were a bit younger we would have thought of doing it ourselves.”
Each wooden pod would have its own waste system and a gravel car park would accommodate visitors if plans are accepted. Mr Turner said he had no intention of allowing fires on the site insisting the bio-digesters complied with building regulations.
He also revealed he had spoken to neighbours prior to submitting his plans.
He added: “From our point of view we are going to live at Grove House so it will be our back garden. We don’t want anything that would disturb us.”
The 64-year-old said he would forbid stag and hen parties from booking the pods and was conducting a tree survey at “great expense”.
He added: “Whatever we are doing is not having a detrimental impact on the trees. They are beautiful, they are an asset and we will do our utmost to protect them.”
Mark Anslow, from the county council’s noise action team, said the site would have a “very low background noise level” adding it was “unlikely to be a significant issue”.
A decision is expected in the coming weeks.