A BID to more than double the number of parking spaces beside a motte and bailey castle has run into conservation concerns.

The existing car park serving English Bicknor Primary school lies on the Glebe next to the site of the Norman castle and belongs to the village hall.

Although the proposed extension area, which would have increased the number of spaces from 14 to 32, is outside the scheduled monument zone, conservation experts voiced concern that it would damage part of the castle’s defensive ditch earthwork.

The plan submitted by the village hall committee was backed by English Bicknor Parish Council, with clerk Wendy Lawrence telling Forest planners that they hoped it would “alleviate the problems, experienced by parishioners, of cars parking on the roadside” during school drop-off and pick-up times.

But Gloucestershire County Council archaeologist Charles Parry said: “The application site is of high archaeological sensitivity since it is located immediately adjacent to English Bicknor Castle, an area of national archaeological importance which is designated a scheduled monument.

“While the proposed car park is not within the scheduled part of English Bicknor castle, it is located upon the site of the defensive ditch immediately west of the earthwork bank of the castle’s bailey.

“The proposed parking would cause harm to the appearance and setting of the defensive ditch of the castle’s bailey, and it would also cause additional harm by detracting from the setting of the adjoining scheduled monument.”

Forest council conservation adviser David Haigh said that while informal parking had taken place beside the existing tarmac area since 1985, any ground levelling using soil from the site would cause ground disturbance.

He proposed that the applicants should instead consider using a reinforced turf system laid directly over the existing ground rather than the proposed excavation or levelling.

Historic England said it had some “concerns” that the works would cause “harm” to the setting of the castle and the Grade I-listed St Mary’s Church, and more details were needed about the proposal.

The village hall committee has now withdrawn its application to reconsider the plan.