Chief Reporter
Controversial plans to create a major cycling centre at a flagship National Trust property in Cornwall have formally been submitted.
The Western Morning News revealed last month that the trust was hoping to create 10km of cycle trails and build new hire facilities and a cafe on land at Lanhydrock House, near Bodmin, Cornwall.
The trust has described it as an "absolute priority for the region" and said it would be a "key part in our aim to get visitors outdoors and closer to nature".
However, the proposals have attracted significant opposition, including from the family which gifted the historic house to the National Trust almost 60 years ago.
The trust has now confirmed it has lodged an application with planners at county hall in Truro to redevelop the car park and create cycle trails in neighbouring woodlands.
In addition to the new facilities, a play zone and plant sales area will be re-located to the site while large new car and coach parks would be built.
Mark Harold, the trust's South West regional director, said: "The trust is committed to improving our range of facilities and improving access at Lanhydrock, one of our flagship properties in the South West.
"This project is an absolute priority for the region. We believe it will offer significant local public benefit and the introduction of off-road cycle trails will play a key part in our aim to get visitors outdoors and closer to nature."
Rebecca Brookes-Sullivan, general manager at Lanhydrock, said an important element of the scheme was the restoration of the original 18th century Georgian carriage drive.
"This will enhance the sense of arrival for visitors and improve the flow of cars into and leaving the site," she said.
"We are confident that our proposals will improve the visitor experience to one of the National Trust's most popular visitor sites in the country, and provide local people with a year-round recreational facility."
Opponents of the project say it would ruin the "peace and tranquillity" of the historic house and the surrounding area, and a campaign to "save Lanhydrock" has been launched online.
Kath May, who lives and works nearby, fears the plans will result in the removal of dozens of trees and Cornish hedges and increase traffic on roads that can't cope.
"A number of others have now come on board and we are getting lots of support through the website," she said. "It is not just local people but people from all over the country."
The property was gifted by the Robartes family to the National Trust in 1953. Ann Williams, granddaughter of Viscount Victor Agar Robartes, has spoken of her concerns that the cycling centre will turn the historic house into a "theme park".
The National Trust will be holding a public open event at Lanhydrock to explain the proposals on September 6 from 3pm-6pm.