A glamping park in Northern Ireland is being investigated by the council after it was compared to a landing strip and dubbed the ‘field of nightmares’.

Cotters Park in Randalstown was originally pitched to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council as an eco-friendly destination for food tourism where visitors could attend cookery nights.

But since opening in December 2023, it has been at the centre of ‘noisy’ hen parties and various other numerous other events where music has blared into the early hours of the morning. 

It has seemingly become so disruptive that locals have compared the noise and light pollution to that of an airport landing strip.

There were also concerns raised over the impact of neon lights at the venue and their impact on wildlife, which were seemingly supported by an eco-assessment published last month which said the level of activity by bats had decreased in the area.

The report said the decline in the mammals was in ‘large part’ caused by the lighting. 

The Residents Opposed to Cotters Park were formed in a bid to close the site down after neighbours grew sick of the alleged disorder.

After the opposition group claimed ‘nothing has been done’ to clamp down on the ‘nightmare’ residents are facing, member Bernie Crossan said that they would be demanding the council to step in.

Ms Crossan told the BBC: ‘The facility has turned into a living nightmare for many local residents who have lived in the area for many years.

‘We now need the local Council to intervene as soon as possible to end this nightmare.’

The initial planning application submitted by Cotters Park did not list the parties as a planned use for the venue.

Meanwhile they said they could provide ‘catering, entertainment and bar services’ despite not having the required licence to do so. 

John Blair of the Alliance Party initially supported the plans as they promoted green values at their forefront, but he is now on side with the furious locals.

He told The Telegraph: ‘Some people who live in the area have compared this to having Love Island in the countryside, which I as a local representative had never expected to see in the areas around Randalstown and Toome.’

Mr Blair also urged the owners of Cotters Park to ‘rethink’ their current behaviours and to seriously consider the complaints of residents.

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council is said to be investigating the issue, with a spokesperson saying the council takes ‘all matters of enforcement seriously’.

A Cotters Park spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘Cotters Park is located on family farmland that aims to deliver environmentally responsible and sustainable leisure and tourism in this rural area. The nature is the entire basis of the park and anyone who has taken the time to actually visit and see the site it is clear this is the case! 

‘The ethos of Cotters Park is to offer a tranquil and peaceful retreat for everyone and anyone- based in the countryside that owners have the pleasure of farming, we want to share this with our guests and let them be immersed in the wildlife/nature and be able to actually interact with the nature and farm animals on site’

‘Cotters Park is committed to operating in line with council planning permission and to ensuring that guests enjoy visiting this area of rural beauty with respect and consideration of the local community and environment.

‘Cotters Park completed a robust planning process, further to which permission was granted for the location of cabins and a welcome centre at the site. The council conducted an inspection of Cotters Park and found that permitted cabins comply with planning approval and Caravan Act requirements. Cotters Park is engaged with the council on a further planning application for the site.

‘Cotters Park ethos is of environmental stewardship and in response to ecology report recommendations has made significant investment in red bulbed, low wattage, hooded lighting and the installation owl, bird, duck, and bat nesting, butterfly and Bee based Wild flower planting, vegetation to enhance the biodiversity value of the site to local habitat and wildlife, the “landing strip” theory is not valid.

‘Cotters Park has a robust Noise Management Plan put in place with oversite from the Environmental Health to ensure respect for neighbouring properties in this rural area including quiet hours, noise monitors running 24/7 etc…. Liquor licenses are not required as alcohol is not supplied at Cotters Park and the treatment of wastewater at Cotters Park has been approved by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), with a valid consent to discharge in place.

‘Cotters Park is committed to operating responsibly, complying with all statutory processes and engaging with the council and community to ensure the sustainability of this rural business in the area to carry on providing employment and business for the many local suppliers we support’

‘Cotters Park many social pages, Facebook, Tiktok, Instagram, its own website and our online reviews based on hundreds on interactions with the place will show amore realistic image of what Cotters Park is more so than a handful of opposing ‘neighbours’

A spokesperson for Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council said: ‘The Cotters Park site remains under enforcement investigation and the Council does not provide specific details of the investigation or information on any course of action as it may have an adverse impact upon any legal proceedings.

‘A planning application (Reference LA03/2025/0085/F) has also been received by the Council and is available to view on the Northern Ireland Planning Portal. The planning application is currently under consideration.’