ENFORCEMENT action against the unauthorised use of holiday chalets being lived in all year round has partially been backed by a government inspector.

Action was taken last year by Tendring Council against 16 owners at Clear Springs, in Low Road, Dovercourt over the use of the properties and a breach of condition relating to winter closure.

Nine of the owners appealed against the council's decision and the inspector has made her judgement following a site visit in the summer.

The council was successful in seven of the appeals which were dismissed - and three appeals were won by the owners.

One of the owners had two appeals; they were successful with one and lost one.

Nearly all the chalets are in an area at high risk of flooding and the council does not consider that the design is good enough for conversion to permanent homes.

A Tendring Council spokesman said the council is pleased the inspector upheld its action in the majority of cases.

He said: "It was our view that there was a serious situation with 16 chalets which needed to be addressed which is why we served the notices.

"The problems started in 2012/2013 when a number of the structures stopped being used for holidays and started being used all the year round.

"That is considered an unauthorised change of use which did not have planning permission. Additionally the conditions about leaving the site between the required dates in winter were not being met.

"The chalets should only be used as a holiday motel and nothing else. The council has taken this stance to uphold the law and we have no option but to do so."

Of the 21 chalets, only five were being occupied correctly and vacated between January 14 and March 1 each year at the time the council took enforcement action.

Five of the chalets did not warrant formal action as they were meeting the planning permission – or were immune from action.

Tendring Council had given advance warning by serving planning contravention notices and letters requesting for the unauthorised use to end.

The use of the site as residential goes against local plan policies to keep holiday accommodation as exactly that.