Waxham Sands tells caravan owners to store off site

But an extraordinary row has broken out at the camp site at Waxham Sands after 150 caravanners were ordered to remove their vehicles.

The owners are usually permitted to leave their caravans there over the winter but they have now been told they must all be gone by the end of February.

Waxham Sands Holiday Park was taken over by Lovat in early 2022. Picture - James Weeds (Image: James Weeds)​The new owners of the site say they want the land back so they can build dozens of new holiday homes on the land.

But the caravanners - many of whom live in other areas of the country - claim they have not been given enough notice.

Waxham Sands is beside one of the most picturesque areas on the Norfolk coast. Picture - James Weeds (Image: James Weeds)One of the nearer owners, Lynda Hind from Cawston, said: "It's come out of the blue and people are devastated."

She believes she will have no alternative but to sell her caravan.

Caravans pitched at Waxham Sands. Picture - Lynda Hind (Image: Lynda Hind)

The owners, Lovat Parks, took over Waxham Sands Holiday Park - located between the North Sea and the Norfolk Broads, just north of Winterton - early in 2022.

Since then, they have invested in the facilities, installing new toilet blocks and child play areas.

The next phase of the development is to add up to 40 new holiday homes to the site.

They have given the caravanners until the end of February to remove their vehicles and say this should be long enough.

Waxham Sands along the North Norfolk coast. Picture - Google Earth (Image: Google Earth)Raoul Fraser, from Lovat Parks, said: "We’re sad we’re no longer offering the storage service, and we lose money by not doing it anymore.

Ms Hind, who has been holidaying at the park for 26 years, said the three-month window is not long enough for people to get their things in order.

She said she has not been offered any alternative but to sell her caravan as she has nowhere to store it out of season.

"If we had been told earlier, we could have got the van ready to sell," she said.

"Selling a caravan in February is not a good thing to do."

Dozens of touring caravans stored at Waxham Sands. Picture - James Weeds (Image: James Weeds)Mr Fraser said the park had suggested caravan owners could store their vehicles at another nearby farm, for the same charge as Waxham Sands, and that the caravanners would be welcome to return for visits in the summer.

"We have given them three months, which we feel should be enough time, seeing as we have lined up where they can go," he said.

“We understand people are upset because we’re no longer offering the service, but we feel it is fair."

 Mr Fraser said the owners had not been informed earlier as planning permission to upgrade facilities was only passed at the end of September.

"We’re giving owners three months and we are willing to be flexible for anyone who needs a little longer" he added.

"We’re not going to say people we’re going to do whatever with their campers if they stay longer. We’re not that sort of company.”