A community campaigner has vowed to continue her fight to protect Cockermouth’s green spaces in the aftermath of a “disappointing” planning decision.

Gillian Telford, who fought unsuccessfully to stop a 27-home estate being built on the historic gateway to the Georgian gem town, has pledged to work even harder to safeguard the remaining open spaces.

She made the comments after plans for the homes close to the Grade II-listed Fitz building were given the green light earlier this month by Allerdale council’s planning panel after the developer agreed to make an adjustment to the layout.

The plans for Low Road were refused in April because of the proximity to the historic landmark mansion, amid claims they would spoil the area.

But councillors voted the plans through after hearing that the developer had pledged to move some of the planned homes back by 10 metres.

Mrs Telford said she would be campaigning to encourage the town council to develop a ‘neighbourhood plan’ which she said would have helped protect the land.

Campaigners also said they hoped the landowner would “take steps to guarantee” the protection of the remaining parkland, which forms part of the Cockermouth showfield.

Mrs Telford, who set up a petition against the development which garnered more than 400 signatures, thanked those who spoke against the plans.

She said: “It will be sad to see the destruction of swathes of heritage parkland for a small number of executive homes and the division of the pathway/cycle path by a new road, particularly when young people in the town have recently asked that councils commit to protecting green spaces.

“It appears the views of the people who signed the petition have been largely ignored and it would have been interesting to know what the Government inspector would have said about building on heritage parkland – an area due to be designed protected green space in the next Allerdale local plan – which is also in a flood plain.” Mrs Telford is a member of Cockermouth Vision and of the Civic Trust but stressed that she was speaking as a member of the public and in her “own capacity”.

A controversial proposal to build a B&M superstore nearby, rejected by the panel, is still the subject of an appeal now being considered by the planning inspector, with a decision expected in several weeks.

An Allerdale council spokesman said: “After careful consideration of all the relevant duties and matters members of the development panel concurred with the planning officer’s assessment and recommendation which was to approve the application, subject to conditions and a legal agreement.”