RESIDENTS living near a Canvey caravan park are furious the owner is fighting the council’s decision to refuse it permission for a late alcohol licence.

Thorney Bay Caravan Park was granted a licence extension in March so it could change its late drinking hours, from midnight to 2am, on Fridays, Saturdays and bank holidays.

However, the site also requires planning permission to reflect the change in opening hours. This application was refused by Castle Point Council in June.

Neighbours of the park in Thorney Bay Road have now been informed the park’s owners have lodged an appeal to try to overturn the decision not to grant planning permission.

Steven Cole, 36, of Jasmine Close, Canvey, led the residents’ campaign against the late licence, which attracted 300 signatures to a petition and 56 letters from angry residents.

He said: “I’ve received numerous phone calls and e-mails from angry residents who received the letter from the council about Thorney Bay Park’s appeal. We are definitely against this.

“We didn’t want a bar here or even an extension of its opening hours, and fully support the council’s decision to refuse it.”

Norman Smith, Castle Point councillor for economic regeneration, fully supports the council’s refusal.

Mr Smith said: “Residents are already against the idea. There are too many people living on this site at present.

“To have a bar open until 2am with the large number of people, especially children, is just not right. I fully support the residents and do not think the appeal by Thorney Bay Park will be approved by the council.”

Jeff King, owner of Thorney Bay Park, declined to comment on the appeal.

The appeal will be heard by the council at a date yet to be set.