Sussex caravan park to extend season

The bid to extend the operating season of an East Sussex caravan park has been approved.

Winchelsea Caravan Park, which contains 57 static caravans, had been operating between 1 March and 31 October each year.

Rother District Council approved its application to extend its season by more than three months.

Opposing the plan, Icklesham Parish Council said it would cause traffic disruption and result in an “over-development” of the Pett Level Road site.

Councillor Paul Osborne said an increase in the caravan park's opening hours would mean more tankers on the road as the site is on cesspits.

“This is a particular concern during the winter months, when there are already multiple tankers in Winchelsea Beach due to the insufficient main sewerage system,” he said.

“The applicants said they don’t expect a lot of extra visitors during the winter, so the parish council question why they need the extended opening times; it seems a fair enough question.”

In its application, the park said a longer season would bring it in line with other "competing" parks, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

They said it would also allow it to "better meet the wishes of customers to come and go for holidays and short breaks as they please".

The planning committee accepted officers recommendations to allow the park to operate between 1 March until 14 February.

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