By Linzi Watson

Last updated 09:19, Friday, 10 October 2008

Residents living alongside a Brampton conservation area which is to be turned into 30 allotment plots say their area could become a safety hazard.

Those living at Oulton Terrace say parked cars at a beauty spot known as the Clay Dubbs Field on Gelt road will make walking and driving dangerous and are concerned that the wildlife haven could become an eyesore.

The land, which sits near a blind bend adjacent to a row of terraced houses and cottages, was selected to house up to 30 plots by Brampton Parish Council after 50 local residents called for allotments to grow plants and produce.

As the parish council own the site they were not required to apply for planning permission.

But angry residents turned up at a meeting on Tuesday to voice their objections and say they anticipate queues of parked cars and people encroaching on their land, adding that their quality of life could be in jeopardy.

Brampton Parish Council chair Judith Pattinson confirmed that the plans are going ahead but vowed to take the concerns of those living nearby into consideration.

A separate allotments committee, who held their first meeting on Tuesday night, is being set up to control and run the site.

Stella Lewsley, who lives at Oulton Terrace, said: “It is hazardous.

“One of the things we were told is that people will be walking to the allotments, but people wont walk up to the site especially if carrying implements.

“And cyclists would have difficulty getting up the hill. We are not just being awkward, we are very concerned about this.”

She added: “It is part of the Hadrian’s Wall cycle way and we have children walking up and down and there isn’t a pavement.

“Kids also go backwards and forwards to school.”

Mrs Pattinson assured that the parish council are aware of the issues but said that only one disabled car parking space is likely to included on the site.

Mrs Lewsley added: “We are going to end up with Gelt Road as a one way street.

“I do feel that if this a democracy our views should be taken into account.

“We live in a terrace and we don’t like to just hear that we could have 14 cars lining our street. What about our quality of life?”

Mrs Lewsley added that her elderly neighbour will look directly onto the site and asked the parish council to consider screening to protect the privacy of the residents.

She added: “This is supposed to be a conservation area. We just don’t want it to end up looking ramshackle.”

Another resident Piers Tietze of Rose Cottage on Gelt Road, called for off-road parking adding that the blind bend has previously been the cause of accidents.

Carlisle City Councillor from Brampton, Steve Layden added: “We have got to protect the quality of life for these people and their safety.

“I hope the parish council, can deal with their concerns.”

Mrs Pattinson assured: “ We are not trying to be difficult to the residents that live there but wherever we put the allotments it is going to cause concern for someone.

“But we will try to look after everybody.”

She added: “This is new to us all and we will do the best we can. We will not shirk any of our responsibility.”

Brampton Parish Council are currently looking at a second site to satisfy the growing demand for plots.

Mrs Pattinson added that existing parish council land must be used because there is not enough money in the budget to buy new sites.