Row over toilets at campsite near Heacham South Beach

The row, dubbed the khazi controversy, centres on a toilet block on a campsite at Heacham, near Hunstanton.

It was built in 2019, with West Norfolk Council imposing a clause that it only be used by working farmers.

Officials were concerned that if campers used the block, it could lead to the land being used too intensively.

They later began an investigation after they became suspicious that there may have been some non-agricultural use of the cubicles.

That was dropped after they threatened to take action. But the campsite owner, Nigel Marsh, has now applied to the council to have the stipulation removed altogether.

"In 2022 they enforced against me with regard to non-agricultural users using the toilets," he said.

Farmers only - the controversial toilets (Image: Chris Bishop)

"We've asked them but they've refused to show us the evidence. They'd have to actually be in the cubicle to gain evidence of non-agricultural use."

The khazi controversy is Mr Marsh's latest brush with officialdom, after a number of battles over his campsites at Heacham, Burnham Overy and Holt.

Heacham campsite owner Nigel Marsh (Image: Chris Bishop) Most recently, he won three planning appeals against West Norfolk Council, which has also been told it must pay his costs - reckoned to be around £10,000 - after a government inspector found the authority had acted "unreasonably".

The campsite on South Beach Road, at Heacham (Image: Chris Bishop)

Mr Marsh is now waiting to find out whether the council will grant him a lawful development certificate for his campsite on Heacham's South Beach Road.

In April, the council abandoned legal action over an alleged breach of planning rules. Mr Marsh insists the site is lawful.

"If I don't have a toilet block for my guests, then they may well say my lawful development certificate would not be achievable," he said.

The enforcement notice issued by the council (Image: BCKLWN)

A council spokesman said: "We issued a notice on September 16, 2022 but closed the case because he complied."

The latest application is expected to go before the council's planning committee in September.

It was "called in" by ward councillor and former council leader Terry Parish, which means it will be decided by councillors instead of officials.

Mr Parrish said in an e-mail to a planning officer: "It is in the public interest to explain the state of affairs at this site and adjacent land."

Heacham Parish Council has objected, because the toilets empty into a tank and are not connected to mains sewerage.