Ban on gnomes and washing lines at Chichester caravan site

An application has been submitted to Chichester District Council by Park Holidays UK, which runs Lakeside Caravan Park near Chichester.

The proposal is to change the use of the touring caravan area of the park, to site 37 lodge-style static holiday caravans.

Lakeside want to alter it in a bid to ‘better compete with the holiday caravan market and thereby offer a higher quality of caravan and facilities for holidaymakers’.

However, not all residents on the site are pleased with proposed changes to modernise and improve the park.

One man, who did not wish to be named, said his mother lives at Lakeside.

He said residents have been warned they are no longer allowed ‘garden sheds, fences, brick or stone objects, gnomes or garden plant or flower pots of any kind, shrubs or flower beds, washing lines of any kind, or any commercial works vehicles on site’.

He added: “My mum has spent a long time clearing her little garden of all the weeds, nettles and rubbish that was left on her plot when she moved in a year ago, she has made her own flower beds and planted several vegetables and flowers in plant pots to save the cost of buying supermarket vegetables.

“She also has a three foot staked fence surrounding a bit of her garden to keep her puppy in which was allowed by the previous site manager.

“My mum is now facing the hard decision to possibly rehome her puppy because she will no longer have a fence to keep her in the garden.

“The fence has been up for eight months with no complaints.

“As regards to the no-washing lines rule, how are the residents expected to dry laundry?

“If they can’t dry it outside, they will need a tumble dryer.

“Due to not being allowed sheds any more, the tumble dryers and washing machines will have to go as well because their homes just aren’t big enough to fit these kind of appliances in - this is the reason why they have small garden sheds.

“As a result for not complying with these ridiculous demands, the residents will not have their 2016 licences renewed so many of them will end up homeless.”

A spokesman for Park Holidays UK said: “Holiday home owners at Lakeside were recently sent a brief reminder of the park rules as they relate to pitch areas, including constraints on the erection of washing lines to ensure the park maintains its attractive appearance. Most holiday home owners have been understanding and we thank them for their cooperation.”

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