A BID to almost double the size of a proposed caravan park has been refused by planners.

Tom Doran already has planning permission for a 60-pitch site at Starena Lodge, off Clacton Road in Weeley.

Plans for another 67 holiday lodge caravans went before Tendring Council’s planning committee on Tuesday.

The council refused the original plans for a 20-pitch static park in 2012,but the decision was overturned on appeal two years later.

Proposals for another 40 holiday lodges were given the green light earlier this year.

Council planning officers backed the latest proposals, but the planning committee refused the plans.

Weeley Parish Council had also objected to the caravans, which would go on a 2.4-hectare site of vacant farmland.

Councillors claimed there is no need for extra holiday accommodation in the area and voiced concerns about traffic and the impact the park would have on nearby Gutteridge Hall Lane, which has been classified as a ‘quiet lane’ which can be used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders as well as cars.

The road would have been used as the access road to the site.

District councillor Jeff Bray called for the proposals to go before the committee because of fears over the effect extra traffic would have on St Andrew’s Primary School, which is next door to the proposed site, as well as concerns over noise from the holiday park and the impact it would have on the surrounding area.

Officers said traffic generated at the site would not be significant and that the plans would have been an “acceptable extension” to the previously approved holiday park.