Plans labelled 'bar too far' by town council

Laurel Cottage is in the "heart of Bowness", the town council said

Converting a guest house into a drinking establishment would be a "bar too far", a town council has concluded.

Windermere and Bowness Town Council has argued that plans by developer Bowness Bay Investments to convert part of the Grade II listed Laurel Cottage in the town be refused.

There were "already too many bars in Bowness, undoubtedly resulting in frequent anti-social behaviour", it said.

Cumbria Police said it was "not by coincidence" that reports of violent crime and anti-social behaviour had risen in the past five to 10 years alongside an increase in the number of bars in the area.

'Huge strain'

Planning documents said the proposed establishment would "complement existing local businesses", the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

But the town council said: "Changing Laurel Cottage into a public house in the heart of Bowness, surrounded by numerous other drinking establishments, would be a bar too far."

Cumbria Police told Lake District National Park planners: "In the last five to 10 years this small town has seen significant fast growth in the number of licensed premises in the form of bars and other licensed premises.

"Not by coincidence there has been a significant increase in the amount of anti-social behaviour reports and violent crime."

The force added the offences were "placing huge strain on limited local policing resources" and urged the applicant to have a meeting with police to discuss public safety considerations.