A Lancaster beauty spot could become 'Magaluf on the Lune' unless it is protected from further development, a resident has warned.
Tim Sarney was speaking out at Morecambe Town Hall about plans to build 19 new holiday caravans at the Crook O' Lune holiday park.
Councillors unanimously rejected the proposals by holiday home giants Pure Leisure Group, following a vote on Monday.
But speaking to Beyond Radio after the meeting, residents said they were worried the plans will come back to the table in future.
They fear development will spoil the beauty of the Crook O' Lune, and Mr Sarney warned it might become like the popular Spanish holiday resort Magaluf.
The scenic area, three miles outside Lancaster and close to Caton village, is popular with walkers and cyclists, and for picnics and fishing, and was once painted by the famous artist JMW Turner.
But Mr Sarney, who owns the Hermitage Lodge at the Crook O' Lune, told councillors that the area was "under constant threat from developers".
"Do you want the Crook O' Lune to continue to be famous for its beauty, biodiversity and Turner?" he said.
"Or do you want it to become known as Magaluf on Lune which locals are starting to call it?"
Pure Leisure Group was asking for planning permission to build 19 new static holiday caravans on the site, located in the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
But council officers recommended the plans be refused, due to their potential impact on nearby ancient woodland and the wildlife of the area, including bats.
Councillors agreed, after talks at Monday's meeting of the Lancaster City Council planning regulatory committee.
Their decision came after they listened to the concerns of four local residents, including Mr Sarney, who spoke out against the proposals.
Mr Sarney said he was also worried about increased sewage pollution into the River Lune, which is already a problem in the area.
Chris Austin, another resident, said: "I regularly walk my dog in the Millennium Park which consists of linked cycleways and footpaths. Depending on the time of year, it's full of wild flowers, bats and birds which both my family and I love.
"Please don't allow these people to destroy any more of our beautiful countryside for the short-term gain."
Alexis de Pol, acting on behalf of Pure Leisure Group, spoke in favour of the plans.
Mr de Pol said they had provided "a significant amount of survey work and evidence demonstrating why there would not be a loss of irreplaceable habitats".
The Crook O' Lune Holiday Park is pictured below.
He pointed out there had been no objections from Natural England or the GMEU (the Greater Manchester Ecology Unit, the council's ecology adviser) to the proposed foul drainage structure.
Mr de Pol also criticised a report on the plans produced by Lancaster City Council officers, saying "it did not provide members with sufficient information to make an informed decision".
Objections had been received from 58 members of the public, the Forest of Bowland AONB Partnership, Lune Rivers Trust and Quernmore Parish Council, but there were no objections from County Highways or the Lead Local Flood Authority,
Councillor Joyce Pritchard, a Liberal Democrat, proposed that planning permission be turned down.
"It's an area we really should be protecting," she said.
All 12 councillors on the committee then voted to refuse permission.
Pure Leisure have applied to expand the site twice before, with one previous application refused, and another which was approved being quashed following a legal challenge.
Read more: Lancaster holiday park expansion plans set for refusal - Beyond Radio
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