Residents opposed to the development of a holiday park in Brightlingsea say there’s “a good argument” for the plans to be revisited – and have launched a crowdfunding campaign to pay for legal help and an ecology survey.
The Lower Farm development was approved in November 2024 but – following last minute information about curlew numbers on the site from the Brightlingsea Nature Network (BNN) – Tendring district councillors agreed to look at it again subject to an assessment by Natural England, which is awaited.
Now the BNN says that it has been advised by a lawyer specialising in environmental and planning that “there is a good argument that the application should be going back to committee for discussion even if Natural England have no further objections. The lawyer has advised residents who helped overturn plans to build houses over Middlewick Ranges in Colchester.
A Just Giving appeal launched by a Robinson Road resident is looking to raise £1,500 to pay for a legal letter to be sent to planners and to fund a survey by a professional ecologisof the site’s birdlife – which the BNN says offers the site’s “strongest protections”.
Last month, aspokeman for TDC said that “no decision making is taking place until Natural England’s position is clear” and that the developer, Corby-based Artemis (Brightlingsea), has been asked for more information by NE.
