Decision day looms for park's parking plan

The Grade I listed Penshaw Monument overlooks Herrington Country Park

A country park could lose some of its green space if new proposals to expand car parking are passed by councillors.

There have been reports of increased parking on the grass in Sunderland's Herrington Country Park since the opening of a new café.

Sunderland City Council’s planning department has recommended approval of the scheme which would more than double the number of available spaces.

The new plans will go before councillors at a meeting on Monday evening.

A new cafe in the park has proved popular, councillors have been told

The Local Democracy Reporting Service understands the popularity of the park’s new cafe, Love Lily, has led to drivers parking on grassed areas.

Under the proposals, the main café car park would more than double in size while the spaces at the skate park would grow from nine to 33.

A report prepared for councillors said the planning application would help to “alleviate the pressure on the existing car parks and prevent overuse of the grassed areas”.

It claims this is a "very special circumstance" which outweighs the potential harm to the green belt.

Herrington Country Park covers almost 200 hectares and has been developed on the site of a former colliery.