THE Crown Estate has been given the all-clear in principle to create a woodland activity centre at Nutcombe Bottom after receiving the full support of members of Exmoor National Park Authority's planning committee.

Members had been due to only "note" the proposals to create a purpose-built visitor 'hub', a treetop high ropes courses and specialist mountain biking facilities within the conifer plantation near Dunster.

But such was their enthusiasm for the plans, committee members gave the go-ahead in principle when they met this week, subject to a number of "outstanding issues" being satisfactorily resolved by planning officers.

If the issues, which largely concern the access to the site, cannot be resolved, the application will come back to next month's planning committee meeting for further discussion.

As previously reported in the Free Press, the Crown Estate hopes to dramatically increase visitor numbers from the current 12,000 visitors a year to between 15,000 and 20,000.

The woodland owner is also pledging to make improvements to the junction of the A396, to use Bonniton Lane as the sole access route and to create car parking for up to 50 vehicles.

However, the plans came in for criticism from the conservation charity the Exmoor Society which raised concerns about the increased number of vehicles likely to be accessing the site off Whitswood Steep.

The society was also worried about the potential for bikers to stray from the allocated cycle routes.

"Experience from other locations, including in national parks, indicates that when cyclists have become tired of using the facilities provided for them they extend their day by riding elsewhere.

"This could have an adverse effect on the quiet enjoyment and safety of pedestrians and horse riders using bridleways and paths in the rest of the woodland area," the society said.

The group said improved passing places should be created in the access lane and called for conditions to keep cyclists on the allocated paths and to prevent the site being used for large-scale mountain biking competitions.

The Crown Estate said its plans were designed to improve the "visitor experience" and to further promote the special qualities of the area.

The Crown Estate said: "The fundamental aim underlying the proposals is to provide an enhanced visitor experience at Nutcombe Bottom and provide a broader range of opportunities for people from all backgrounds and interests to come into the woodland and understand and enjoy its special qualities.

"Central to this is a proposed visitor/hub building.

"The building would provide a central point for visitors to come and find information about Nutcombe Bottom, its special qualities, the importance of the woodland, the diversity of wildlife it holds and also provide them with various amenities to ensure they are comfortable while they visit."

Planning officers said the views of highways chiefs would be crucial when considering the "appropriateness of the access".

But they said Nutcombe Bottom had the capacity to accommodate bicycle trails, a high ropes course and hub building without causing any unacceptable harm.