Pevensey Bay caravan park can open for longer throughout year

Wealden councillors have raised concerns about people allegedly living full-time at a caravan park in Pevensey Bay. 

The discussion came at a meeting of Wealden District Council’s planning committee south last Thursday, (July 16), as members considered two applications related to Pevensey Bay Holiday Park.

Both applications sought to change planning conditions restricting what part of the year the business, formerly known as the Martello Beach Holiday Park, could be occupied.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But allegations these conditions were not being observed had been raised ahead of the meeting by Pevensey Bay ward councillor Lin Clark.

In a letter to the committee she said: “It is a known fact that there are people living on the site as their main residence. Many do not even move out for the required period. 

“There are always lights on in caravans during the closed period, plus traffic coming and going to and from work.”

If true, the practice would be in breach of planning conditions which require the caravan park to close down for part of the year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, the allegation is refuted by the applicant, who argued it would not be in their commercial interest to allow it to happen.

In a letter to the committee, the applicant’s planning agent said: “The proposals aim to extend the holiday occupancy period by one month to 11½ months; bringing Pevensey Bay into line with other parks, both locally and nationally.

“Previous permissions in 2013 and on appeal in 2016 have already applied conditions that ensure holiday occupancy is controlled.

“The applicant positively supports these measures, which are common across their portfolio of 31 parks and robustly enforced.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It is not in the applicant’s commercial interests to permit residential misuse of holiday accommodation.

“The applicant reinforces control through contractual obligations and compliance with mandatory guidance issued by the national trade bodies. Again, this is common practice within the industry.”

The agent added: “Some staff are present on site in caravans all year round for security and management purposes; including the park’s general manager.”

The first application related to an area of the caravan park which was given planning permission in 2017, while the second application related to the remaining, older part of the site.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Both applications sought to change the caravan park’s operating period from March 1st to January 15, to a longer period of March 1st to February 14. In other words, moving from a six-week closedown to a two-week closedown each year.

Planning officers stressed these conditions would still restrict the caravan park to holiday use and not allow it to become residential.

But in light of the allegations of planning breaches, some councillors argued that the applications should be deferred until council officers could investigate their validity.

Officers, however, warned this could have unforeseen consequences as other holiday sites around the district had been granted permission to become full time residences, both through appeals and the council’s own decisions.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Stacey Robbins, the council’s head of planning, said: “Ultimately, what members are saying is ‘we would like a response to the allegations of people living here full time.’

“We can do that but on the outcome of recent appeals we have lost that argument and have supported that type of change on a number of different sites around the district.

“Just to be clear, that is not what they are applying for, but the reservations we are hearing about the appropriateness  is a lost argument in terms of other sites around the district.

“I think the committee needs to be aware of that when they go for the vote on the deferral.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Following further discussion both applications were approved. The first was approved with six votes for, four against and two abstentions. The second was approved with nine votes for, two against and one abstention.

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Stay safe, and best wishes.

Related topics: