Residents of a small Cornish hamlet claim their landscape has been “destroyed” by the installation of 60 static caravans at a neighbouring holiday park, which they believe contravenes planning regulations dating back nearly five decades.
Those living in Luney Barton, situated beneath Meadow Lakes Holiday Park close to Hewas Water and approximately three miles from St Austell, contend the caravans have been positioned on an incorrect section of the 56-acre site.
The family-operated park offers self-catering accommodation, fishing lakes, a swimming pool and various leisure facilities, according to Cornwall Live.
Local inhabitants have waged a prolonged campaign with Cornwall Council’s planning enforcement team, arguing the static units should be relocated to a different area as specified in a 1978 approval.
Cornwall Council maintains its investigations revealed no planning breach, while the park’s management insists it has acted properly throughout.
Lorraine Harvey, who has spearheaded the residents’ campaign alongside her husband Jeff, described how the units materialised without warning.
“They seemed to just appear… 44 got placed and then in January 2023 the diggers came back again, they took all the ancient hedgerows out on one side, took down some trees and put another 16 in,” she said.
Ann Brian, a 29-year resident of the hamlet, expressed dismay at the transformation.
Residents of a small Cornish hamlet claim their landscape has been ‘destroyed’
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GETTY
“People walk into the field, see it and go, ‘Oh my God’,” she said. “It has completely ruined this area – it was beautiful. They’ve destroyed it over there.”
Bruce Bryan, who has called Luney Barton home for 32 years, recalled when the site hosted only touring visitors.
“It’s basically a bloody village over there now,” he said.
Mrs Harvey explained Meadow Lakes received planning permission in 2007 under application 07/00102 for 70 timber-faced lodges on the northern and north-eastern portion of the site.
However, residents maintain the caravans were instead positioned on land closer to their properties, following an older 1978 plan designated 4/04/78/01500.
“When we went over to see the operations manager, he kept repeating he was working to old plans,” Mrs Harvey said.
She raised this discrepancy with enforcement officers seven times between mid-January and mid-March 2023, but was told it was irrelevant to the current case.
Mr Bryan questioned whether the council’s reliance on 1960s caravan legislation was appropriate for structures delivered by articulated lorries in two halves, bolted together on concrete foundations.
The residents argue such units more closely resemble mobile homes than traditional touring caravans.
A Cornwall Council spokesman said: “Extensive investigations have been carried out relating to this site. These have concluded that the siting of the caravans in their current location do not amount to breach of planning control.”
Residents claim no council official has visited their properties to observe the situation firsthand.
Rachel Nation, managing director of Acorn Parks Ltd, which acquired Meadow Lakes in 2009, defended the company’s conduct.
She confirmed the parkhad cooperated fully with the council over more than two years, providing all requested documentation.
Ms Nation added meetings had been held with parish councillors and the Harveys themselves.
“Meadow Lakes has a long and detailed planning history,” she said.