New twist in long-running row over Heacham campsite

West Norfolk Council launched court action last summer over what it claimed was a breach of planning rules at the field off the South Beach Road, at Heacham.

But it abandoned it in November, saying it intended to explore other avenues - leaving owner Nigel Marsh £35,000 out of pocket, after being awarded costs of just £26.

Nigel Marsh claims his campsite at Heacham is lawful (Image: Chris Bishop)

Now the council is understood to be considering serving an injunction on Mr Marsh, who insists his site is lawful.

But Mr Marsh has applied to the authority for a certificate of lawful development for the site, which had 1,316 visitors last year, claiming it is not an unauthorised permanent campsite, but an exempted caravan and camping site, which does not require planning permission.

"I believe West Norfolk want to issue an injunction because they have no evidence to submit," he said.

Nigel Marsh has now applied for a lawful development certificate (Image: Chris Bishop)

"It will be their barrister arguing against little me about the facts. The barrister will out-match me in confidence in the High Court in front of a judge.

"To stop them in their tracks, I've requested a lawful development certificate, that enables West Norfolk Council to look at the facts of the case and whether the campsite has been lawful since 2018."

Mr Marsh believes a judge would "frown on" an injunction being served while an application for lawful development was in progress.

A council spokesman said: "In light of the application for a lawful development certificate the council is considering its options in relation to any potential action.”

Mr Marsh said the site had operated as a campsite in the 1950s.

In 2021, the council gained an injunction preventing Mr Marsh from using a field at Burnham Norton for camping, after arguing that it breached habitat regulations.