A DEVELOPER is going to the High Court in a bid to obtain permission for a controversial holiday park.Peter Brown has been told by a Government planning inspector that he cannot erect log cabins at Foxburrow Farm, Heath Road, Brightwell, near Woodbridge.

By Richard Smith

A DEVELOPER is going to the High Court in a bid to obtain permission for a controversial holiday park.

Peter Brown has been told by a Government planning inspector that he cannot erect log cabins at Foxburrow Farm, Heath Road, Brightwell, near Woodbridge.

But Mr Brown is refusing to give up and he is hoping his case will be held in the High Court before Christmas.

His barrister will be asking the High Court to allow the planning appeal to be heard again. This will continue what is becoming an increasingly long and costly exercise but Mr Brown says he is convinced the battle is worthwhile.

He had appealed after Suffolk Coastal District Council failed to make decisions on two plans submitted for the site within the statutory eight-week period.

Alan Boyland, the Government inspector, then ruled that the siting of the holiday park could harm BT's test facilities and that it would spoil the character of the area and harm the quality of life for villagers in Waldringfield.

Mr Brown said: ''We are convinced that the inspector has made a mistake and therefore we are going to the High Court for a review and hopefully it will then go back to the Planning Inspectorate to be looked at again.''

Mr Brown added: ''We have already invested hundreds of thousands of pounds into this, it is taking a long time but we do feel very strongly about this and feel that it would bring a welcome amenity to the area.

''It is not near houses or directly to a village, with Waldringfield about two-and-a-half to three kilometres away. We demonstrated that the village of Waldringfield would not be overrun by people.

''We did a survey and it said that there would be less than one car extra per hour. We have done our homework and we are confident that the decision will go in our favour.

''We have had letters of support and phone calls. You get negative feedback but we have also got people who have supported the scheme.''

However, the district council says it is delighted with the inspector's decision and his ruling will give the council ''ammunition'' to fight off similar developments.

More than 86% of the council's decisions taken to appeal are adjudicated in the council's favour.