Glamping park is dubbed a ‘discipline of nightmares’ by neighbours who say they have been instructed ‘celebration venue’ can be an eco-friendly food-tourism venue
A glamping park in Northern Ireland is being investigated by the council after it was compared to a landing strip and dubbed the ‘field of nightmares’.
Cotters Park in Randalstown was originally pitched to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council as an eco-friendly destination for food tourism where visitors could attend cookery nights.
But since opening in December 2023, it has been at the centre of ‘noisy’ hen parties and various other numerous other events where music has blared into the early hours of the morning.
It has seemingly become so disruptive that locals have compared the noise and light pollution to that of an airport landing strip.
There were also concerns raised over the impact of neon lights at the venue and their impact on wildlife, which were seemingly supported by an eco-assessment published last month which said the level of activity by bats had decreased in the area.
The report said the decline in the mammals was in ‘large part’ caused by the lighting.
The Residents Opposed to Cotters Park were formed in a bid to close the site down after neighbours grew sick of the alleged disorder.
After the opposition group claimed ‘nothing has been done’ to clamp down on the ‘nightmare’ residents are facing, member Bernie Crossan said that they would be demanding the council to step in.
Cotters Park in Randalstown was originally pitched to pitched to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council as an eco-friendly destination for food tourism where visitors could attend cookery nights
But since opening in December 2023, it has been at the centre of ‘noisy’ hen parties and various other numerous other events where music has blared into the early hours of the morning
It has seemingly become so disruptive that locals have compared the noise and light pollution to that of an airport landing strip
Ms Crossan told the BBC: ‘The facility has turned into a living nightmare for many local residents who have lived in the area for many years.
‘We now need the local Council to intervene as soon as possible to end this nightmare.’
The initial planning application submitted by Cotters Park did not list the parties as a planned use for the venue.
Meanwhile they said they could provide ‘catering, entertainment and bar services’ despite not having the required licence to do so.
The Residents Opposed to Cotters Park were formed in a bid to close the site down after neighbours grew sick of the alleged disorder
John Blair of the Alliance Party has urged the owners of Cotters Park to ‘rethink’ their current behaviours and to seriously consider the complaints of residents
John Blair of the Alliance Party initially supported the plans as they promoted green values at their forefront, but he is now on side with the furious locals.
He told The Telegraph: ‘Some people who live in the area have compared this to having Love Island in the countryside, which I as a local representative had never expected to see in the areas around Randalstown and Toome.’
Mr Blair also urged the owners of Cotters Park to ‘rethink’ their current behaviours and to seriously consider the complaints of residents.
Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council is said to be investigating the issue, with a spokesperson saying the council takes ‘all matters of enforcement seriously’.
MailOnline has approached both the council and Cotters Park for a full comment.
