NEW plans for a boat and caravan park have been condemned by residents.

Villagers are now preparing for a new battle over land in Bothenhampton after proposals for a similar scheme were rejected.

The Bugler family had wanted to store 50 caravans on their land at Church Hayes Farm, Old Church Road but a planning inspector ruled it out last February.

He said it would be totally out of place in the farm setting.

Now – in a move that has been labelled ‘ridiculous’ – the family has applied again to convert their agricultural buildings to store 50 boats and caravans using property developer CG Fry as agent.

Tempers are running high with the company refusing to consult with the parish council after accusing it of ‘staging’ a ‘congestion’ exercise in an attempt to mislead the inspector when the previous application came up for appeal by towing a caravan through he village.

A spokesman for Fry said: “Dialogue with the parish council would not be helpful or constructive.”

Roger Ffooks of Bothenhampton Residents Association said: “We are incensed by the charge, which is disgraceful. It is aggressive and totally insulting.”

He said the council and residents had merely asked an experienced caravan owner to drive up the road to illustrate what caravans driving through the village would look like.

The developers also criticised West Dorset District Council for failing to say what it thought of an application to store the boats and caravans inside the buildings only.

David Lohfink, Fry’s land and planning manager said: “We are acting for the applicants in the matter purely as agents to assist them with our planning expertise.”

The parish council is giving residents a chance to air their views in Walditch Village Hall on Monday at 7pm. Comments have to be in to the district council by Friday, April 24.

Residents, who enlisted the help of MP Oliver Letwin for their pervious battle, are still arguing the application would cause traffic chaos.

John Roast said: “I cannot understand how a reapplication can be made when the previous application has been turned down.”