CHURT villagers have launched a campaign against plans for a permanent trailer park in Wishanger Lane.

Symondstone Country Park Ltd has applied for a certificate of lawfulness from East Hampshire District Council to authenticate the use of land at Symondstone Farm for the stationing of caravans for permanent residential use, avoiding the need for a planning application.

Villagers fear this could see 70 or more mobile homes permanently stationed on the farm, which has been used as a holiday caravan and camping site since the 1950s, increasing pressure on local roads, schools, sewers and other infrastructure.

Symondstone Farm was recently sold to Cambridge-based developer Countrywide Park Homes Ltd for around £2.5 million following the death of the farm’s former owner George Knight.

An advert subsequently appeared online at rightmove.co.uk in January, marketing trailer homes for £350,000 each at ‘Symondstone Country Park’ and describing the park as “a brand new luxury lodge development lying within the heart of the Surrey Hills” - ignoring that Symondstone Farm is actually across the border in Hampshire.

This advert has subsequently been removed and Symondstone Country Park Ltd -which shares two directors, Donna and Anthony Barnley, with Countrywide Park Homes Ltd - applied for a certificate of lawfulness in mid-February.

The application refers to Symondstone Farm’s 1961 planning permission, which granted permission for 70 caravans “for holiday occupation only and none shall be used for permanent living accommodation”.

Planning barrister Michael Rudd, acting on behalf of Symondstone Country Park Ltd, argues restricting the number of caravans to ‘70’ is an “unlawful limitation” and also disputes the use of the term ‘holiday’, which he said is open to interpretation and impossible to define with precision.

“In summary,” added Mr Rudd, “I consider the lawful use of the land to be for the stationing of an unlimited number of caravans, which can be twin-unit mobile homes, with the condition preventing the occupation of those caravans for permanent residential use being insufficiently precise and probably unenforceable.”

Many Churt villagers dispute this, however, arguing the use of the farm for caravans and camping has been in decline in recent years and the developer’s plans would mark a significant change of use for the site, warranting a full planning application.

More than 60 people have objected to the certificate of lawfulness application (ref. 35158/005) online at easthants.gov.uk and up to 100 Churt residents attended a meeting last month to protest against the plans.

A spokesman for the campaign group, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Herald: “There is the possibility that the site could be developed in its entirety as a residential trailer home park…this would have a significant impact on Churt and the surrounding area.

“The developers have not been in contact with any of the locals and the information we have gained has been from solely from the advert and the district council.

“We requested to be put in touch with the new owners at the time of the sale but Hamptons [estate agents] told us that they would be in contact in due course and no contact details were forthcoming from them.

“Many locals will be objecting to any intensification of use of the site and the number who have expressed concern grows daily.”

The spokesman added the new owners of Symondstone Farm have already undertaken works to the access road to the caravan site by clearing trees and bushes, and raising the tree crown height, “in preparation for bringing in the mobile homes”.

To view the plans and leave a comment before the deadline of Friday, March 18, visit easthants.gov.uk and search for planning application reference 35158/005.

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

The campaign group can be contacted by emailing [email protected] .