Residents face wait in legal battle with caravan park (From Gazette)

Residents face wait in legal battle with caravan park

6:19pm Tuesday 10th November 2009

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RESIDENTS must wait indefinitely to find out if they are entitled to compensation for disruption due to a long-running battle with a caravan park’s owners.

Jacqueline Morris, Stephen Foster and Patricia Robins’ fight for occupation rights at Haven Village, Brightlingsea, is to be decided by a written judgement.

Judge, Mr Justice Jack, decided to reserve his decision after two days of legal wrangling came to a close today at London’s High Court.

A previous hearing last year found residents had bought their mobile homes on the understanding they could live there permanently, even though the caravan park in Promenade Way restricts access between December and February.

However they must have planning permission to make it legal and have to resubmit two planning applications to Tendring District Council.

Meanwhile site operators, Brightlingsea Haven Ltd and Hammerton Leisure Ltd say local planning policy prevents year-round use of the plots.

The firm was recently ordered to pay £1,400 in legal costs by Colchester Magistrates’ Court after it was convicted of breaching its site licence.

The site operators say that the judge should still limit occupation in the closure period and not impose more than £5,000 in compensation.

Jacqueline Morris, a spokesman for the residents, said: “We are still where we were before. The judgement leaves it open for us to apply for planning permission.

“We are disappointed. The uncertainty continues and it is very stressful.”

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