THE owners of Crake Valley Park, who have to pay over £126,000 for planning enforcement breaches, said their business had been 'criminalised.' 

The park, which is at the southern tip of Coniston near Water Yeat, has been involved in a planning spat with the Lake District national park authority that resulted in them being taken to Carlisle Crown Court. 

David and Helen Khan pleaded guilty on behalf of themselves and their company Rural Getaways Ltd to not complying with notices dating back to 2017. 

However the Khans said that costs associated with the courts and defending enforcement notices are 'beyond the financial means' of a small family business, which was why they gave a guilty plea. 

David Khan shared a letter with this publication he sent to stakeholders. 

READ MORE: Crake Valley Park receives fine for breaking planning rules

He said: "The cost of defending the enforcement notices and seeking a resolution through the courts is way beyond the financial means of most small family businesses. 

“For personal reasons and to protect jobs and the future of our business and because of pressures the owners were under supporting family and friends with health and personal issue, they decided to plead guilty in the belief that they would be treated fairly.

“At all times we believed we were acting in the interest of our employees. 100 per cent of all labour and material costs incurred were spent locally. Have we really got to the point where a business is criminalised because they wish to operate their park safely by providing lighting for guests to move around the site safely, have a safe affordable supply of fuel, and develop caravans  within well-established legal precedents and case law.”

The first enforcement notice was issued in November 2017 following the unauthorised installation of two gas tanks and two concrete pads.  An enforcement notice was served but not complied with after an unsuccessful retrospective planning application. 

A second notice was served in March 2020 following the unauthorised installation of lighting posts.  Retrospective permission was again sought and refused, and an appeal was dismissed. 

A third enforcement notice was served in November 2020 following the construction of an unlawful residential unit.  Retrospective planning permission had again been refused, and an appeal against the enforcement notice was dismissed by the Secretary of State.  The enforcement notice was not complied with and the Lake District National Park Authority started court action.