Work to install new hard standings at Brightlingsea’s Lakeside Caravan Park earlier this year was carried out without planning permission.

The operator of the Promenade Way site, Michael McCarthy, has now submitted a retrospective planning application after being issued with an enforcement notice by Tendring District Council in April. The application, covering alterations to the road and the installation of new hardstanding pitches, is due to be discussed by Brightlingsea Town Council’s planning committee on Thursday, July 1.

In December, after work began to install 50 gravelled pitches – each with water and electricity and separated by five metres of grass – Brightlingsea Town Council issued a statement which said: “The Lakeside Campsite is being extensively upgraded to a very high standard, and will welcome motor caravans and touring caravans and tents to the site when the the 2021 season opens,” and added: “Brightlingsea Town Council has been kept informed and is delighted with the progress, which will put the town even higher up on the list of preferred tourist destinations.”

At a meeting of the town council in April, district and town councillor Mick Barry reported that “concerns raised regarding the spacing between pitches have been passed onto the Environmental Health team (of Tendring District Council ).” His report added: “The touring camp site is accommodating a number of caravans already, apparently on a long term storage basis – from observation there does not seem to be pitch space for 30 tents as communicated to councillors some months ago.  This is subject to further enquiries.”

The planning application can be seen on Tendring Council’s planning website here. The deadline for comments from members of the public on the application is July 12.