Dorset tourism hit by 'ill-conceived and confused' campsite rules

They claim that Dorset Council is misinterpreting Natural England’s planning guidelines for sites – by not allowing some to open with consent, or open and risk prosecution.

Several sites have been refused permission this year because of what the campsite owners say is Dorset Council’s “ill-conceived and confused” approach when site are near to important nature sites, or water courses which run into Poole Harbour.

As a result of the council’s approach a new organisation, Dorset Camping, has been formed to fight for their businesses.

“Many well-known and much-loved campsites which have been welcoming visitors for many years, some for decades without interruption have suddenly and unfairly been threatened with enforcement and closure! Fees and lengthy ill-conceived applications have been demanded by Dorset Council with little or no likelihood of success,” said the organisation.

It claims that the refusal for well-run, often well-established sites, will only result in more illegal, or ‘wild camping’, in areas where it will be a nuisance to local people and potentially disastrous for nature.

“It is our position that Dorset Council has failed to follow salient national advice from Natural England. They are failing to consider the impact on the local economy, the impact on the Countryside and the livelihood of many local people, furthermore Dorset Council have failed to implement a ‘mechanism’ by which they can consider reasonable mitigation,” said a spokesman for the group, which lists more than a dozen campsites across the county as its members.

The group is calling for others who have had problems with the planning system to get in touch via email on – info@dorset-camping.co.uk Members of the group say they share the concerns for the environment and are only asking to be treated fairly and consulted.

Said a Dorset Council spokeperson: "When development is proposed, we need to assess whether there is likely to be a significant effect on a designated habitats site. As part of the assessment process, we are required to consult with Natural England to seek their advice on the potential impact of the proposal. The response we receive from Natural England informs our decision about the likely significant effect.

“When it is deemed there is likely to be a significant effect arising from the proposed development, Dorset Council needs to address this through the inclusion of mitigation measures. We must be satisfied that development proposals do not lead to adverse impacts upon the integrity of designated habitats sites through the Habitats Regulations Assessment/Appropriate Assessment process.”

The full text of the group’s statement, which has been sent to all Dorset councillors reads:

“On behalf of the Dorset campsites detailed below we hereby write the following open letter to raise awareness of our plight.

It is our belief that Dorset Council, contrary to Natural England’s clear guidance to ‘only take action if there is a SIGNIFICANT negative effect on protected sites’, have recently imposed unfair, unreasonable and hugely onerous restrictions on dozens of much-loved Dorset Campsites this year.

It is our position that Council policies are ill-conceived, confused and have been misinterpreted to target small (often independently run) temporary campsites, ill-equipped to defend themselves. The Council has imposing significant financial burdens on local businesses as though they were major industrial developments.

Many well-known and much-loved campsites which have been welcoming visitors for many years, some for decades without interruption have suddenly and unfairly been threatened with enforcement and closure! Fees and lengthy ill-conceived applications have been demanded by Dorset Council with little or no likelihood of success.

It is our opinion that Legislation being applied by Dorset Council was intended to address an increase in urban sprawl and major building projects where a SIGNIFICANT harm to the environment is likely. Instead, it has been applied to small temporary campsites, arguing that collectively, the campsites cause SIGNIFICANT harm to protected areas. We believe that this assault on small (often family) businesses is unfair and unbalanced when compared with hotels, Caravan Parks and other major industry etc which currently pay nothing!

As a result of these restrictions and the manner in which they have been delivered, many local campsites and local business in Dorset may fail. The result will be a loss of jobs and the loss of many hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of pounds to the local economy.

Closures are highly likely to encourage visitors to wild camp in unsupervised areas resulting in a far greater detrimental effect on the environment and with an increased risk of fires and damage to flora and fauna.

It is our position that Dorset Council has failed to follow salient national advice from Natural England. They are failing to consider the impact on the local economy, the impact on the Countryside and the livelihood of many local people, further more Dorset Council have failed to implement a ‘mechanism’ by which they can consider reasonable mitigation!

The provision for mitigation of onerous projects that SIGNIFICANTLY threaten protected area is welcome and well-advised Government legislation. However, when related to Poole Harbour (with its thousands of boat movements, swinging moorings, ferries, marinas, pleasure boats, numerous Brownsea Island events and Poole Quay, its working ports and Wytch Farm oil field, fishing fleets and the contribution of Poole and Hamworthy along its banks) for Dorset Council to propose that a small temporary campsite, some many miles away, causes SIGNIFICANT harm, becomes absurd.

To be clear, we love and care for the environment and the local ecology of this beautiful part of the Country. The beauty of this area is why many of the undersigned chose to open such business’s, seeking to share our joy and pride in the local area and its ecological diversity.

We seek only to be treated fairly, to be consulted reasonably and to assist with the protection of our countryside. “

The letter is signed by campsite owners across the county.