A caravan park embroiled in a battle to allow the site to open for nine months each year has had its planning application thrown out.

Steeple Bay Holiday Park only has permission to open each day for eight months despite giving contracts to caravan owners, and taking money, for longer.

The owners applied to Maldon District Council for an extension which was refused.

At the same time the council is pursuing breach notices for the illegal opening.

Maldon District Council served a breach of planning condition notice on Park Holidays in November.

Following the action Park Holidays UK submitted a planning application asking to be allowed to open for a month longer each year, having been charging people to stay there illegally for more than a decade.

The plans went before the council’s south eastern area planning committee on Monday where councillors voted to refuse the plans.

The decision notice stated: “In the absence of appropriate habitat assessment or survey information to demonstrate whether or not the development would have an adverse effect upon the internationally and nationally designated nature conservation site, the local planning authority is unable to be satisfied that the proposal would not have a detrimental effect on the natural environment.”

It added given the “importance and sensitivity of the site” the council believes “a precautionary approach should be adopted”.

Enforcement action in relation to caravan owners staying outside the agreed dates continues.

A spokesman for the council said: “This matter is still ongoing and therefore, the council is unable to make any further comment.”

Caravan owners were confused when the enforcement notices dropped through their doors from the council given the contracts they had signed.

A comment has been requested from Park Holidays.