A family who hoped to open a Billericay caravan park today admitted they were disappointed their application had been turned down on appeal.
Christopher Philpot, whose family run Barleylands Farm, said: "It is most unfortunate. We wanted to put 20 caravans on our land, just for the summer months.
"As a farm we are not going through a very good time, to say the least.
"The Government is trying to encourage farmers to find alternative uses for their land and we thought the caravans were a very good idea.
"We contacted the tourist boards at Thurrock, Maldon and Southend and they were in favour of the idea because they have a shortage of places they can recommend to holiday-makers."
Basildon Council had turned down the Philpots' application to change the use of the plot of green belt land.
The family appealed but a planning inspector upheld the council's decision.
He said the farm and other leisure facilities in the area were more likely to attract daytrippers than long-stay visitors.
He added that he couldn't find any special circumstances which would justify inappropriate development in the green belt.
Mr Philpot added: "We have the museum here and the farm would be a good base for holidaymakers.
"It really is unfortunate."
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