MUD banks being built at the entrance to Bradwell Marina have caused outrage with residents and campaigners.

The banks, named the “Great Wall of Bradwell”, are being built by construction workers on each side of the marina entrance on Waterside Road.

The mud banks’ emergence comes in the wake of controversial caravan park plans by Strutt and Parker, which has applied to Maldon District Council to change the use of land in Waterside Road on behalf of Port Flair.

Sue Evans, of Waterside Road, said: “It’s an interesting development.

“I’m not sure if this is intimidation of local residents objecting to the caravan park or acknowledgement that the proposed caravan development is going to be a blot on the landscape.”

The opposition group has accused the marina of being “spiteful” after starting work on the mud banks.

A spokesman for Bradwell Against The Caravan Site said: “The marina are claiming these new mud banks are landscaping, but it appears to be retaliation against local houses who have objected to their plans.

“They have no real purpose and seem designed to ruin their views of the river.

“One of our members approached one of the workers to ask what was happening, and apparently they said it was because they didn’t want to look at our ‘Against the Caravan Site’ signs we put up.

“It seems to be the case where if they can’t get exactly what they want then they will try to completely ruin it for others too, which comes across as rather nasty and spiteful.”

A Maldon District Council spokesman said: “The enforcement team are aware of the mounds of earth at Bradwell Marina and have visited the site.

“This is an ongoing enforcement matter and so we are unable to comment any further at this time.”

Bradwell Marina was contacted, but declined to comment.