Green light for caravan park expansion would 'destroy' wildlife, say villagers

ANGRY villagers say a decision to allow a controversial mobile home company to expand by building more lodges will “destroy” the area’s beauty and wildlife.

New Forest District Council has granted a certificate of lawful use for Royale Life to erect luxury bungalows costing up to £450,000 each on a field near Milford next to one it has already developed, Solent Grange.

Cllr Sue Whitlock, who chairs Milford Parish Council’s planning committee, said: “It is very sad that it will covered in great big huge bungalows. It is such a beautiful spot, a really lovely area for bird life.”

Opponents hope development of the the field in New Lane could still be blocked by NFDC as it is near to a site of European importance used by rare bird species including the dark-bellied Brent goose.

NFDC says no works can begin until it formally gives Royale Life written notification of approval under Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017.

Cllr Whitlock said: “That offers us a least a small chance and a bit of hope. There are geese which come back year after year to that field and to think they will disappear is just awful.

“The planning authority is at least a bit of a lifeline.”

As reported in the A&T, Royale Life bought the then Carrington Park from previous owner Tony Milne. He operated it as a holiday caravan site allowing people to live in their mobile homes for nine months of the year.

But due to what the parish council called “a huge mistake” by Lymington Town Council’s planning department in 1961, the park actually had approval for year-round residential occupation.

Once Royale Life took over the site it served notice on existing caravan owners that their rolling contracts would not be renewed. They were given the option of moving their caravans to other nearby parks once their lease finished.

Several lavish bungalows, which are for the over-45s, have already been built on the former Carrington Park site and Royale Life says demand for them is “huge.” A swimming pool and coffee shop at the park is also planned.

The company has previously run into trouble with NFDC which ordered it to remove huge, stone lion heads and Grecian statues put up at the entrance of the park.

Royale Life is now keen to start erecting bungalows on the adjacent site which used to be left empty apart from when caravanning clubs hired it.

Keith Metcalf from the Milford Conservation Volunteers (MCV) said he was “very disappointed” approval had been given to build on it.

But he admitted it was “always going to be difficult for NFDCs legal department to resist” after a lawful development certificate (LDC) was granted in Cambridgeshire in very similar circumstances.

He pointed to concerns raised by Natural England which had pointed out the land supported the Solent and Southampton Water Special Protection Area (SPA) and the Hurst Castle and Lymington River Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Mr Metcalf said: “The sad reality is that not only has the middle field been included in NFDC’s recent LDC approval, so has the whole site, including the most southerly field. In reality, this opens up the whole site to being developed with more static all-year-round caravan homes.”

But he believed conditions meant that further development would need permission by NFDC under conservation regulations.

He added: “Sadly, on this thin thread of conservation hope does the future welfare of the wintering Brent geese from Siberia and many other wintering waders rest.”

Conservationist Roger Adcock said he hoped NFDC “will see sense” and block the development of the second field.

He said: “Royale Life are ruining the whole place, they are quite ruthless. I don’t think they care at all about the wildlife, or any habitats.”

Milford resident Mary Ann Jardine said: “The so-called caravans are in fact quite large bungalows. No doubt the developers will make plenty of money and the threat to wildlife will be disregarded.

“I am not happy about this but feel that the damage has already been done.”

A spokesperson for the NFDC confirmed a certificate of lawfulness had been issued for the site on 5th August stating that “the proposed use of the amenity land for the siting of caravans would be lawful”.

However, she pointed out that due to its proximity to a site of European importance for bird species, including the dark-bellied Brent goose, separate approval would be needed before work could begin.

She said: “The developer now needs to obtain a separate approval under the Habitats Regulations before they can carry out any works on the land.

“They will need to submit an application to the council for determination as to whether the proposals would have likely significant effects on the European site.”