PLANNING permission has been given to move a section of the Mersea boating lake car park to higher ground... despite the site being used for agriculture and the potential of archaeological artefacts.

The application sought to move a section of the existing car park, on Rewsalls Lane, on to the existing arable field next to it.

There will be a single point of access to the new parking area from within the existing car park.

The access track and car park area are proposed to be finished with either crushed rock or road plannings and is proposed to be enclosed by a new native hedgerow.

The key issues addressed within the planning application outlined the consideration of the impacts on the character and appearance of the surrounding area, ecology, highways and parking, archaeology and flood risk.

The application observed the considered scheme will not result in any harm in terms of landscape character, ecology, or with regards to other material planning considerations.

The car park will feature no external lighting on the site, including any floodlighting or bollard lighting, in order to safeguard the surrounding area and prevent the disruptive and disturbing effects of light pollution, minimizing impact upon wildlife.

No works on the site will be undertaken during the months of November, through to March, in order to ensure that wintering birds are not disturbed from construction noise.

Noting the history of the area, the application stated: “The red hill will have originally been a mound, gradually reduced due to erosion and modern ploughing, and the 300mm strip proposed for the car park could certainly impact on it.

“There are no grounds to consider refusal of permission in order to achieve preservation in situ of any important heritage assets.”

No works will take place until an archaeological survey has taken place, to safeguard any potential archaeological assets within the development boundary.

East Mersea Parish Council has raised no objection, stating they feel: “strongly that the wildlife in the vicinity must be protected and that the new car park should not be too high as to be seen from surrounding areas".