Brixham campsite row ahead of port’s big weekend

Investigation underway

Enforcement officers from Torbay Council have stepped into a row over camping in Brixham.

The council has investigated an alleged breach of planning control on fields at Gillard Road near Berry Head. The new owners of the fields, who bought them at an auction of the assets of the defunct Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust earlier this year, have mown the grass in preparation for the big Bank Holiday weekend which includes the Brixham Pirate Festival.

They say using the fields will benefit tourism and the local economy, and the field will go back to grazing once the pirates have gone home.

Thousands of people are expected to flood into Brixham for the weekend festival, which offers a packed programme of live music and events throughout the town. It has grown into the biggest event of its kind in the country.

But the council says the fields are covered by a Landscape and Ecological Management Plan (LEMP) as part of a planning agreement, and that plan says the land should be used for conservation grazing.

It has now written to the site owners telling them that they cannot use the fields as a temporary campsite.

The letter from a planning official – dated April 29 – concludes: “I can confirm that the use as a temporary campsite cannot be undertaken via permitted development rights.”

In a statement the council said: “Concerns were raised with our planning department earlier this week that works to create a temporary campsite there are in breach of planning conditions.

“We are carrying out an investigation into all the circumstances and are considering a range of enforcement options.”

South Devon Liberal Democrat MP Caroline Voaden said she had written to the council about the ‘increasingly concerning’ activity.

She said: “I know many people are concerned about the substantial environmental damage that could occur if the land is used by tents and motorhomes.

“While tourism is undoubtedly important to the local economy, it does not justify sweeping aside existing environmental safeguards.”

In a statement posted online, the owners of Wall Park Touring and Centry Road Camping explained that they were ‘fully familiar’ with the LEMP and would abide by it. They said they had been in direct communication with the council regarding the temporary campsite, which they believe is ‘permitted development’ under planning law.

“We are committed to operating transparently and responsibly,” they said.

Work had already been carried out to maintain a public footpath, cut back brambles and ensure that the land remains accessible and safe for the community.

“Supporting and engaging with the local community has always been a priority for us, and we will continue to explore ways to involve residents through activities on-site,” said the statement. “This land was purchased to protect it from future development. This has been a significant investment for us, and the temporary use of the land will help offset costs while preserving its long-term character.

“There is also a growing demand for additional pitches at our park, and we believe this will bring positive benefits to the wider area by supporting local tourism and contributing to the local economy.”

The campsite’s online application to use the land for camping attracted 25 comments in support and 37 objections.