MERSEA islanders have declared “enough is enough” as a holiday park operator hopes to add 67 extra caravans to its park.

Away Resorts, which runs Mersea Island Holiday Park, in East Mersea, hopes to add the caravans to about 230 already on the Fen Lane site.

It would mean dozens of caravans would then border the idyllic Cudmore Grove Country Park and take the total number of caravan pitches on the island to more than 2,300 - 1,100 of which are in East Mersea which has about 100 homes and population of about 230.

The proposals have been met with stiff opposition from residents and council bosses.

Campaigner Peter Inson, who lives in nearby East Road, said: “This is really the straw which has broken the camel’s back.

“The island has put up with a lot in terms of development but enough is really is enough.

“This is rural idyll which now looks like a residential housing estate rather than country lane.”

The application has been called in which means it will be decided by the authority’s planning committee.

Council bosses have also agreed to extend the time residents have to have their say on the application.

Consultation had been due to finish on Tuesday but residents now have until March 27 to have their say.

Mr Inson, a 69-year-old retired teacher, added: “People in Mersea feel if they do not make a fuss now it will be too late and Mersea will just become another lump of concrete and tarmac, like other parts of the borough.”

East Mersea parish councillor David Sunnucks added: “I have seen over my lifetime the continual expansion of the three caravan sites in East Mersea which has changed East Mersea from a rural village into a holiday resort.

“This is especially evident by the amount of traffic, noise and litter residents have to put up with.”

He added: “If allowed, it would cause further coastal ribbon development.

“It is clear East Mersea residents really have had enough.”

John Akker, chairman of the Stop 350 campaign, which has stood against plans to build 350 homes on the island, said: “Many residents are becoming concerned by the huge commercial growth in caravan parks on Mersea.

“These have gone way beyond private owner to large companies.

“The numbers have shown considerable growth and what is more, the numbers using the caravan sites are putting a huge strain on services, such as roads and doctor surgeries.”

Park chiefs say plans would enhance the area

CARAVAN park bosses say the extension would create jobs and help the island.

Away Resorts, which employs 11 people at the park, says the number of staff would increase to 15 if the application is approved. 

In a statement, Away Resorts said allowing the extension would support the “modernisation and retention” of the holiday park.

It added: “ In the first instance, the extension of the park is of primary importance in developing the park as a modern high quality family holiday park.”

The statement also states before the park was taken over by Away Resorts in January 2016, it was a “marginal business suffering from lack of investment for many decades”.

Away Resorts also say the extension would also help other community services, such as nearby pub, the Dog and Pheasant. 

The statement added: “Away Resorts are seeking to upgrade and improve their own clubhouse facilities but holiday guests will not want to eat there every day, some days they will want to eat at other destinations in the area and the Dog and Pheasant is an obvious choice where families can easily walk back to the holiday park.” 

Although the park does have a 12 month holiday licence, bosses say it is only open for 11 months of the year.

To view the application and to make a comment, go to colchester.gov.uk and search on the planning portal for application number 162442.