Trees at a Hullbridge caravan park could be uprooted because of damage to drainage.

Halcyon caravan site in Pooles Lane, Hullbridge, is licensed as a mixed holiday and residential area for up to 126 caravans.

Owner The Berkeley Leisure Group, which took it over in August 1997, now wants to re-develop the site with a view to it being used solely for permanent residents.

A report before Rochford District Council's community services committee, states: "The holiday use of the site has already ceased and most of the holiday units have been removed."

Under planning rules, any changes to roads, footpaths, buildings or open space shown on the site plan must be given written approval.

A previous application to change the site layout last year was thrown out because it did not meet car parking rules.

The latest plans show all the trees - which are protected by a tree preservation order - will be affected by the site layout.

Berkeley has asked to uproot the trees on the grounds they are causing damage to hardstanding areas and drainage.

The council has advised that the two issues of felling the trees and development of the site must be dealt with separately and has suggested the application be refused.

The matter will be discussed at a meeting of Rochford District Council's community services committee at 7.30pm on Thursday at the civic centre in Hockley Road, Rayleigh.

Cut down? - the trees could soon go

Picture: MIKE BELLENIE

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.