Local Conservatives are helping to act as peace brokers for residents of a Sefton caravan site under threat from pathetic bureaucracy.
Freshfield caravan park at the seaward junction with Victoria Road, Formby, has been in existence since 1982.
Until comparatively recently, site residents have kept the access road open by clearing blown sand on a regular basis.
Now they have been told by their landlords, the National Trust, that this practice cannot continue since Natural England has declared the area one of special scientific interest (SSI).
The result is that caravan owners are now marooned in a site which still has 10 years of lease.
The National Trust and Natural England are both being intransigent on the issue, while Sefton Council insist it is a civil matter, as the access is not under the jurisdiction of the highways department.
Councillor Joe Riley, who represents Harington Ward on Sefton Council, and his Conservative colleagues on Formby Parish Council, Councillors Colin Appleton and David Dutton, say the situation is ridiculous and needs sorting out.
Says Joe Riley: “Sefton cannot, if you’ll forgive the pun, just bury their heads in the sand.
“The caravan site contributes Council Tax, and they are quite happy to reap the benefit.
“The site dwellers, the National Trust, Natural England and Sefton Council need to sit down and find a solution.
“The democratic process is primarily to serve the needs of local residents. “It is not run by toads, bats and lizards, although given the present impasse, there is certainly cause to wonder.”
