A farmer is appealing an enforcement notice issued against him by the council instructing him to remove caravans and lorry backs he has on his land which are "not related to agriculture use".

Mr Dennis Dean Roberts, who owns the farm in North Cove, near Beccles, was issued the enforcement notice by East Suffolk Council (ESC) in November 2022.

In the documents, ESC said it had approached the landowner on several occasions warning him about the "unauthorised use" of the land, but did not hear back.

Inspectors at the council became aware of the situation in March 2021.

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Beccles & Bungay Journal: A bird's eye shot of the site from 2017, ESC say proves more unlawful static and touring caravans and lorry backs have arrived at the siteA bird's eye shot of the site from 2017, ESC say proves more unlawful static and touring caravans and lorry backs have arrived at the site (Image: East Suffolk Council)

They say the lawful use of the land is for "agriculture and equestrian use" only, after a 2008 planning application was approved to build a timber building for storage on the land.

The planning application ESC approved in August 2008 said that the timber building must not be used for "residential or holiday purposes".

ESC say that the caravans and lorries across the site have been used for residential use after a "complaint" was received.

And after the council refused an application from the farmer to build a house on the land, and further refused on appeal in 2019, ESC believe a violation of their policy has occurred.

But in the documents, Mr Roberts, appealing the decision, says that though some structures are caravans, they are used for storage purposes.

He also says some of the caravans are "exempt" from the enforcement notice having been on the site for more than 10 years.

On the left is the 2011 site, juxtaposed with the site in 2022

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He describes the other structures as "minor" which have no "adverse impacts" on the environment and landscape.

Whereas ESC council say that lorry back, caravans and other items unrelated to agriculture are an "alien form in the landscape" and do little to "enhance the open countryside character of the area".

A decision on the appeal is yet to be issued.

Beccles & Bungay Journal: The view from the A146 of the site which ESC say is storing the alien items The view from the A146 of the site which ESC say is storing the alien items (Image: Google)