Council says 'no' twice to mobile home park - flags and signs look set to come down unless owners appeal decision
By Nub News reporting team based on source material from LDRS reporter Christine Sexton. 2nd Sep 2025
THURROCK Council has flexed its planning muscles and turned down two planning applications related to the controversial mobile homes park at at Walton Hall Farm, Waltons Hall Road, L.inford.
The site has been subject to a number of planning and environment breaches during its construction and a variety of applications from the site owners, Monte Carlo Homes.
Thurrock Council has been criticised over its lack of information and clarity in dealing with the site, which at one point saw it embarrassingly have to withdraw a 'stop' order it had put on the development.
In latest moves an application to allow a totem sign and four flag signs at Walton Hall Farm, Waltons Hall Road, have been rejected as a danger to motorists. Two sets of totems and flags have already been erected at either entrance to the site!
A planning officers report said: "The traffic movements at the western entrance on this rural road, where traffic speeds are high, would, in itself give rise to the risk of adversely affecting highway safety
"Given the signage has been installed at the site, and given the council are recommending the refusal on advertisement consent, it therefore follows that enforcement action is considered should the signage that has been refused consent remain in place."
It adds: "The signage, by virtue of its height, number, siting and overall appearance close to the highway and highly visible to the public realm is detrimental to the overall rural character and appearance of the north side of Waltons Hall Road, and significantly adversely impacts the rural character of the site."
Waltons Hall Road resident, Rob Massey, said: "The signs are totally out of character with the surrounding area. They most definitely distract motorists travelling along the narrow tree-lined road, their sole purpose is to grab attention.
"It makes no sense to erect them alongside two semi-concealed property entrances. There is already an element of risk when entering/exiting these properties, any nearby distractive signage will increase the risk significantly."
Mr Massey added:
A recent application to extend the number of mobile homes on the site to 36 has also been refused.
The council fears that while the caravans are currently ancillary to the other buildings on the site, increasing the number to 36 would "tip the balance" and mean the site would become less of a visitor attraction and more of a caravan park.
A report by planning officers said: "Incremental increases are capable of bringing about a definable change of character. One such definable change of incremental increase in the number of caravans could tip the balance of the caravan use to become the primary or dominant use.
"If the impact of the extra caravans proposed by the application was considered by the council to result in the caravan use becoming the dominant or primary use, the rest of the site could fall to be considered as ancillary, thereby permitting further caravans to be sited on such areas, which could squeeze the viability of the other mixed uses, including visitor attractions, resulting in a further definable change in the character and nature of the site."
In recent times business based at the site - which is now primarily planned to be a mobile home park - have closed down and left. Monte Carlo Parks are marketing the mobile home park as the site's principal business. It's marketing map shows 37 mobile homes on the park.
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