Colehill villagers ‘Say No’ to pop-up campsite

Exclusive by Marilyn Barber

Residents living in the Vineries, Leigh Lane and Colborne Avenue in Colehill say they’ve pursued every avenue when it comes to addressing a problem which is not only adversely affecting their lives; they also feel it is causing long term environmental damage.

At issue is a pop-up campsite at Cottage Farm in Leigh Lane, which is adjacent to the Bytheway SANG.

Resident Peter Clifford said: “Originally, there was a planning application and some objections were registered on the Dorset Council website. However, it was determined by the council that this was an admin error and, in fact, a planning application was not required for the site due to it being allowed to operate as an ‘exempted Camping and Caravanning Site’.

Pop-up campsites were introduced in July 2020 to help the rural economy to recover from the Covid pandemic.

But there are rules. There should be no fire pits or barbecues and dogs shouldn’t be allowed to roam off the lead.

And this, the villagers say, is being broken.

“In the summer I couldn’t open my windows; it was like having a neighbour with 30 barbecues,” said one resident who did not want to be named. “The fire service was called out on several occasions and rubbish has been thrown into gardens.”

Another resident said that, at one time, the dog bins had been overflowing at the SANG.

People book to go on the site through the Freedom Camping Club. On behalf of villagers, Mr Clifford wrote to express the villagers’ strong objection to the application to grant a 12-month certified site certificate on the land.

He said: “The licence incorrectly implies this site is a farm situated in rural Dorset. In fact, the site is a field off a lane in a quiet residential neighbourhood in Colehill. There are no on-site facilities such as showers, toilets, running water or power at this location nor in the surrounding area.”

Villagers turned out in the pouring rain to protest

Photo by Marilyn Barber

He added that there were several occasions when residents experienced abuse from campers and it had been necessary for some incidents of anti-social behaviour to be reported to the police.

Also at issue is the access to the site.

Mr Clifford said: “Leigh Lane is a narrow lane with only short sections of pavements. There is also a sharp bend near the campsite entrance which increases the risk of accidents. There are no local amenities so campers need to drive to reach shops, etc, significantly increasing the volume of traffic each day.”

Another resident commented that there were portaloos in the field close to nearby properties which were not only unsightly; they also caused foul smells throughout the warmer months.

Local people also fear that the campsite location had disrupted the habits of deer, badgers and a variety of birds.

Mr Clifford wrote to Natural England who pointed out that the decision whether to grant or withdraw individual site certificates lies with the exemption certificate holder, which is the Freedom Camping Club.

In an email to residents, East Dorset Environment Partnership (EDEP) said that problems experienced by residents in 2021 involving both the police and fire and rescue were unacceptable. It added that wildfire risk in Dorset was of great concern in hot dry summer months and that disposable barbecues and campfires should not be used.

Local MP Michael Tomlinson said: “I have raised this matter with Dorset Council planning department and asked that this matter is investigated so that all activities on the site are shown to be within planning regulations. I understand the concerns of the local community and it is for Dorset Council to provide the reassurances that this is being looked at.”