A HOLIDAY complex proposed for Lamplugh could to bring jobs and tourism to the village, it has been predicted.

Land behind the Lamplugh Tip Inn has been earmarked to house the development with 15 timber lodges, nine camping pods, space for seven touring caravans and a shower block.

Lamplugh Parish Council clerk John Sloan said the "principle" of the plans, to boost for tourism in the area, had good local support.

He said: "The parish council and more importantly the people were very much in favour of the original plans.

"We had about 40-50 people turn up to one of the planning meetings in support of it when it first came up."

Mr Sloan added that the pub, which he believes is a "big part of the village", is now closed for refurbishment.

He hopes the plans will give an economic boost to the village and create jobs for young people.

The scheme has been supported by Cumbria Tourism, which says: "It will retain and support jobs, underpin the viability of the adjacent public house and help to spread the benefits of tourism and visitor spend to West Cumbria."

When the plans were originally approved, five letters of support were sent to Copeland, praising the scheme for boosting the pub and tourism in an area which is now considered an "eyesore".

Three letters of objection were lodged however, expressing concern that the increase in traffic and noise is “likely to be detrimental” to the area and that scale of the development is “excessive and would be inappropriate to the village”.

The parish council and some individual residents also raised the issue of safety on the site given its mining history, although the Coal Mining Authority did not object to the development. Copeland Council received the new plans this week.