A campsite owner has claimed his council has cost him up to £25,000 in lost bookings by refusing to remove "nullified" enforcement notices from its website.
West Norfolk council has been locked in a lengthy legal dispute with Nigel Marsh over the use of his site near Heacham Beach, near Hunstanton.
The council launched enforcement action in 2023, claiming he was running an unauthorised permanent campsite.
Yet, Marsh has maintained that he operates an exempted caravan and camping site which does not require planning permission.
The council's enforcement action eventually reached the crown court, but was later abandoned when the authority said it intended to pursue other avenues.
Marsh has now appealed the council's refusal to grant him a legal development certificate for the site on South Beach Road.
Despite dropping the court case, Marsh has said that enforcement papers relating to the failed action remain available on the council's website.
The council has indicated it has placed "on hold" serving a new planning enforcement notice until =Marsh's current appeal is decided.
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Marsh claims the continued presence of these enforcement notices online has severely impacted his business and that his site has been removed from online booking portals where customers could reserve pitches.
"They're refusing to list us because we have an enforcement notice for a permanent campsite and they believe the council are still enforcing against us," he said.
"The council continue to advertise an enforcement notice for a permanent campsite. As you can see, I'm empty because of this," he added.
He estimates the situation has cost him between £20,000 and £25,000 in lost bookings.
In correspondence seen by the Eastern Daily Press, the council stated the existing enforcement notice "will remain in place until your appeal is concluded".
It is not Marsh's first victory against the local authority.
He has already won four appeals to the government's planning watchdog against the council over the site.
These successful appeals include what has been described as a "bizarre battle" over who could and could not use toilets on the campsite.
The outcome of his latest appeal regarding the legal development certificate remains pending.
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West Norfolk council has been locked in a lengthy legal dispute with Nigel Marsh over the use of his site near Heacham Beach, near Hunstanton.
The council launched enforcement action in 2023, claiming he was running an unauthorised permanent campsite.
Yet, Marsh has maintained that he operates an exempted caravan and camping site which does not require planning permission.
The council's enforcement action eventually reached the crown court, but was later abandoned when the authority said it intended to pursue other avenues.
Marsh has now appealed the council's refusal to grant him a legal development certificate for the site on South Beach Road.
Despite dropping the court case, Marsh has said that enforcement papers relating to the failed action remain available on the council's website.
The council has indicated it has placed "on hold" serving a new planning enforcement notice until =Marsh's current appeal is decided.
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Marsh claims the continued presence of these enforcement notices online has severely impacted his business and that his site has been removed from online booking portals where customers could reserve pitches.
"They're refusing to list us because we have an enforcement notice for a permanent campsite and they believe the council are still enforcing against us," he said.
"The council continue to advertise an enforcement notice for a permanent campsite. As you can see, I'm empty because of this," he added.
He estimates the situation has cost him between £20,000 and £25,000 in lost bookings.
In correspondence seen by the Eastern Daily Press, the council stated the existing enforcement notice "will remain in place until your appeal is concluded".
It is not Marsh's first victory against the local authority.
He has already won four appeals to the government's planning watchdog against the council over the site.
These successful appeals include what has been described as a "bizarre battle" over who could and could not use toilets on the campsite.
The outcome of his latest appeal regarding the legal development certificate remains pending.
Find Out More...