NEW static holiday home 'chalets' have gone up at a city caravan park after previous mobile home owners were ordered to leave the site.
The first chalet-type static homes have been put up on the Ketch Caravan Park off the A38 Bath Road in Worcester less than a year after the former 'residents' were given their marching orders.
Two of the chalet-type homes have gone up so far. However, there are now several plots of hardstanding which have been installed over the last few months to accommodate many more, similar structures following the controversial decision to ask previous holiday mobile home owners to leave.
Previous holidaymakers called the decision 'the end of an era'. Among those to leave were John Powell, then 77, and Judy Powell, the aged 74.
They had to sell their original static caravan for scrap, getting £500 for it which the family described as 'better than nothing'.
The eviction notice upset their disabled daughter, Sarah Powell, then 54, who loved it at the Ketch.
Some holidaymakers had used the site for close to 30 years.
The Worcester News understands that, because there has been no change of use, there is no need for a new planning application to Worcester City Council.
John Renshaw, chairman of St Peter's Parish Council, said it was 'a like for like' use so there was no need for planning permission.
He said: "However, have noticed quite a few trees have been chopped down and we are quite concerned about that and we are trying to find out whether or not permission had been given.
"Obviously if there is just like for like replacement of the caravans, that is fair enough. But it does seem quite a few trees have been removed."
We reported in April last year how a letter from Ross Byrne of Isle of Man-based Tremlo Limited, was sent to former residents, headed 'termination of licence agreement'.
They were told to leave by October 31 last year and make plans to remove their holiday homes, leaving the riverside caravan park deserted before the workmen moved in to install the hardstanding.
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The Worcester News has been told by residents there were about 60 caravans on the site, overlooking the river Severn, including statics and touring caravans
We have called a number on the gates of the Ketch Caravan Park but did not receive any response.
Previous enquiries have also met with no response.
A spokesperson for Worcester City Council said: "“The city council is aware of the work taking place at the Ketch caravan park and, on the basis of our investigations to date, we are satisfied that it is being carried out in accordance within the permitted development rights for caravan sites.
"These allow a certain amount of development to be carried out without planning permission, where it is a requirement of the conditions of a site licence. The council will continue to monitor the site and is actively investigating the recent removal of some trees.”
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