What impact does tourism have on Wadebridge

By Inhouse Studio | Thursday, September 30, 2010, 11:59

This week I visited Lisa and Neil Mudie who run Mill Valley Yurts and Tipis, an eco friendly campsite, situated in a small wooded valley on the edge of Wadebridge, they have been running this successful site for 3 and a half years.

Mill Valley Holidays Wadebridge
Mill Valley Holidays Wadebridge
Mill Valley Holidays Wadebridge

Mill Valley has 4 yurts and a shepherds hut, and with the recent rise in popularity of glamping it’s not surprising that they are open all year round and especially busy over the Winter period bringing much needed revenue into the area off season.

The site has two composting toilets and a small log cabin with 2 separate bathrooms each with a roll top bath. Their own borehole supplies the water and is heated by a wood-burning stove. They have a small forest garden on the site and cows, pigs, geese, chickens, ducks, and a goat. Visitors can experience life on a smallholding and see where their meat and eggs come from.

Lisa explained their ethos to me ‘Right from the start it was always our aim to create a site that would have a minimal impact and to give people a luxury camping experience whilst making them more aware of their carbon footprint, this is something which we feel really strongly about. It also makes them appreciate nature and the wildlife that’s around them. We have created this site; everything that we have used is recycled, bought locally or sourced from our own woodland and hedgerows. We have planted about 700 trees and put up a lot of bird, bat and owl boxes. We are also managing our own woodland for dormice.’

Lisa also went on to say ‘Most of our visitors have written in our guest book about how the site has changed the way they want to live their lives. A lot of visitors have been in touch after their stay and told us that when they've returned home they have started growing their own veg and some have even bought some chickens.’

It came as a surprise when Lisa and Neil explained to me that they have been told to close the campsite by a planning enforcement officer because they do not have planning permission.

The Mill Valley field has been a camping and caravanning site for many years prior to Lisa and Neil buying the site, so in my view there doesn't seem to be a change in use, other than the fact that hundreds of caravans are not being towed down tiny country lanes to and from the site anymore. Lisa and Neil also offer a 25% discount to any guests that arrive by public transport; encouraging people to think about the impact their holiday has on the environment.

Lisa and Neil informed me that In the last 3 and a half years Mill Valley has had around 5000 visitors come and stay at the site, these holiday makers obviously help to boost our local economy.

What do you think about the planning departments decision? Is this bureaucracy gone mad? Is there a way to resolve this situation rather than simply closing them down? Let WadebridgePeople.co.uk know your views.

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Comments

Good idea Ed, and judging by the overwhelming response on this website I think we're going to hear a lot more about what happens with Lisa & Neil's application...

By Inhouse Studio at 14:11 on 07/10/10
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This is a great idea, why aren't the local councilors supporting this. Cornwall council should be using this as an example of the type of environmently friendly, low impact business we need in Cornwall not trying to shut it down. We need to name and shame any parish, town or county councilor who opposes the planning application.

By edthomas2 at 10:52 on 07/10/10
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This truly is gone mad!!! it is truly ridiculous that a local business that actively encourages environmental wellbeing and the benefits of a low carbon footprint should be put into question. The government should be showing support to businesses like this and actively helping young local people to excel in their own businesses, not only this but the campsite is clearly something that neil and lisa are highly passionate about and it is so nice to see people showing dedication to something that can help the future of our environment. We are all aware of the environmental impact that the tourism trade as well as our daily lives can bring and should all be a bit more like neil and lisa by doing our bit for the environment - its obvious to see that many people do care and are trying harder to do their bit for the environment as they have had so many people take holidays with them, it would be a great shame to see this end as, unless i am mistaken - this is supposedly what the government support?? Why on earth would a completely moveable tent need planning permission???!!! Wadebridge should be proud to have a truly different and exciting option for our tourists to stay.

By elinfletcher at 18:51 on 05/10/10
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It seems a bit crazy that you can slightly extend your house without needing planning permission yet what effectively is a tent needs it.

I'd never heard of this place until I read this and I like the idea. Sustainable tourism is the future.

By irgmcdonald at 21:41 on 03/10/10
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We ARE applying for planning permission and that is not our argument...
We are not BUILDING on land without permission...a Yurt is a nomadic tent and as such we don't feel it should be seen in the same light as a concrete building set on foundations with all the mains drainage, electric etc that goes with that. Our site had been a caravan site for 20 years before we took it over and surely it is better now that the roads arn't getting jammed up with caravans!
Without tourism, Wadebridge would be a lot poorer town, full of unemployment and gloom!
Being local people and coming from a farming background we know how difficult it is to make ends meet and surely anything thats helping a local young family and bringing money into the area whilst enhancing the environment is a postive thing.

By Mill Valley Yurts at 16:34 on 03/10/10
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