A DEVELOPER seeking to intensify the use of a historic holiday caravan park in Churt has blamed local residents for causing traffic chaos in the lanes surrounding the site.

Last week The Herald reported HGVs transporting mobile homes to Symondstone Farm in Wishanger Lane have frequently blocked the lanes between Frensham and Churt in recent weeks - on occasion requiring a police presence as tempers boiled over.

However, following criticism by Churt residents for the blockages, the developer Countrywide Park Homes has hit back - blaming local objectors for deliberately blocking its delivery route.

This came to a head on the evening of Friday, November 4, when a mobile home was off-loaded overnight at the Frensham Pond Hotel, after finding its path on Bacon Lane blocked.

Addressing this incident, a spokesman for the developer’s solicitors said: “Our client contacted us at 5.20pm on Friday [November 4] to explain what was taking place…they had to call the police because two vehicles had been parked in such a way so as to obstruct the delivery of the lodge.

“These cars had been parked after the transporter company had taken steps to ensure the safe delivery of the lodge to the park.

“The suggestion is that the owners of these cars decided to park where they did after witnessing the drivers for the transporter company assess the route to the park, in order to prevent the delivery of the lodge.

“Our client told us that the Pc who attended contacted the owners of these vehicles and was told that they had broken down. The Pc gave them two hours in which to remove the vehicles otherwise they would be towed away.”

The spokesman added the owner of one of these cars had previously emailed Countrywide Park Homes threatening to “park their vehicle opposite the entrance so our client ‘could see how it feels’”.  

She continued: “Our client regrets the situation which has arisen. They are entitled to operate a lodge park from the land concerned, having followed the lawful and proper route to obtain confirmation of their rights.

“We are told by our client, and members of the Symondstone Community Action Group have been informed about this, that our client is creating a high standard of development which will have a positive impact on the local economy.”

A spokesman for Hampshire Police added: “We can confirm that officers attended the Bacon Lane/Wishanger Lane crossroads near Headley Down around 3.15pm on Friday, November 4, after receiving a report that two vehicles were obstructing the highway.

“One vehicle was recovered and the other was removed by its owner. No crime was identified at the time.

“We are aware of the wider issue of the transportation of mobile homes in the Bacon Lane area and are working with our partners and the community to address it. We will take appropriate action if necessary.”