Campsite plans to keep growing

A popular tourist destination in Henlow is planning to expand.

Henlow Bridge Lakes is looking to improve its facilities for teenagers and have staff on site all year round, as well as improve its tea room.

The site specialises in tourist camping, glamping and providing facilties for families and rally groups on its 30 acre site.

It has been steadily growing for the past few years, with the creation of lakes in 2010, the holding of rallies since 2012, shower blocks and all weather shelter.

Last year it received planning permission for six leisure lodges and six angling cabins.

In a statement to Central Beds Council’s Development Control committee for its latest plans, owners, Henlow Lanes and Riverside Ltd said: “As we have expanded we have offered visitors a viable alternative to the more commercially orientated Center Parcs tourist experience.

“As in previous years, the owners of the site have seen its popularity rise, bringing with it an increasing demand for facilites, beyond expectation.”

The company says it has seen a rising demand for services over the winter with the expectation of all year round facilties, the need to provide all weather facilities and a need for entertainment specifically for 3-13year old, 13-18 year old and adult and families entertainment area.

They also expect to increase by four their current staffing levels of 21 full and part time staff.

The site which has been evolving since 2002, received a silver award in October 2011 from the Campaign to Protect Rural England for landscaping improvements and plays an important part in the King Fisher Way, Baldock to Tempsford footpath route.

In 2012 the site hosted the opening of the HICCA Way, a walk between Henlow, Arlesey and Hitchin which partly runs through the Glebe Meadows conservation area. The sites’ footpaths attract over 1,200 walkers and groups per month.