VILLAGERS fighting plans to turn a holiday caravan site on the outskirts of Churt into a permanent mobile home park have been featured on BBC South Today.

Symondstone Farm in Wishanger Lane was granted planning permission in 1961 to house up to 70 caravans “for holiday occupation only and none shall be used for permanent living accommodation”.

However, over half a century later, the farm’s new owners Countrywide Park Homes have applied to East Hampshire District Council for a certificate of lawfulness to overturn this limitation.

As reported in The Herald earlier this year and by the BBC on Monday afternoon, many Churt residents have fiercely objected to these plans, arguing that farm’s holiday business has been in decline in recent years and a permanent trailer park could overwhelm local roads and services.

Countrywide Park Homes ultimately wants to place up to a hundred mobile homes at Symondstone Farm, which locals say will increase their village’s population by a fifth.

Richard Allen, of the Symondstone Community Action Group, told the BBC: “There’s no dental surgery, there’s no doctors, there’s no petrol station, a very small village shop.

“We’re not on a public transport network. If you want to get a bus it’s only once an hour - you have to walk or either you drive, so it’s just not environmentally sustainable.”

Countrywide Park Homes has provoked further anger from campaigners in recent weeks after constructing hard standing on the farm as well as transporting several large mobile homes to the site through the narrow lanes around Churt.

The developer has argued the farm’s Caravan Site Licence allows it to prepare for an expansion of the site’s current use, and campaigners have tried, and as yet failed, to put a halt to these works pending the council’s decision.

Campaigners have also accused Countrywide Park Homes of exploiting lawful development rights to circumvent the usual planning process, which they say has denied the public a formal consultation process.

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Allen added: “We do feel that it’s just a back-door way of actually getting a hundred new dwellings out in the countryside.

“[In considering an application for a lawful development certificate] you’re not allowed to take into account effects on infrastructure, on schooling, on anything like that. It’s basically a legal decision and it’s a yes or a no.”

East Hampshire District Council is expected to decide on the application shortly, but told the BBC it is unable to take action “one way or the other” concerning any building work until reaching its decision.

In a statement, Countrywide Park Homes said: “The company appreciates the sensitivity of development in the area but must make it clear that the current redevelopment is being undertaken in line with an early 1960s planning consent allowing caravans to be sited all year round. We pride ourselves in offering a high standard of development.

“Since February this year, we have been working closely with the local authority to clarify the extent of the already established planning permission.

“Attempts have been made to meet and discuss options with the local residents and through their legal representative but our invitations have been declined.

“We are sorry for any inconvenience which may have been caused on the roads to date but we will try to do what we can to minimise disruption going forward. We welcome any comments or questions to Info@countrywidepark

homes.co.uk.”

Almost 400 people have written letters objecting to the developer’s plans to date, including The National Trust which owns nearby Frensham Common, Surrey Hills AONB, Waverley Borough Council, and Churt, Frensham and Headley parish councils.

And adding to the debate this week, Churt Parish Council in its June 2016 newsletter reiterated its concerns about the development, commenting that its impact on parishioners “has been, and will be, intolerable”.

It said: “If this development continues there will serious impacts on village amenities such as schools and shops, and road congestion will increase.

“The site is located just over the county border in East Hants and the planners at East Hampshire District Council seem unable or unwilling to control the developer. Surrey Police and Surrey Highways have been impassive concerning the blockages on the A287 caused by the delivery of the mobile units and the damage to trees and verges on the lanes.”

To view the plans online visit easthants.gov.uk and search for planning application reference 35158/005. The deadline for comments has passed but the campaign group can be contacted by sending an email to