A caravan site is applying for a certificate of lawful use despite openly admitting it has breached planning obligations.

Oakdale Place, in Wisbech, has breached several conditions attached to a successful planning application for 11 residential caravans in 1996.

But, since 10 years have passed and Fenland District Council did not follow through with enforcement, it is claimed conditions can not be retrospectively imposed.

Oakdale Park never conformed to a condition which said they had to submit a plan of all trees on the land, their location, species and which are to be retained, felled, topped or lopped.

It also breached another condition which said caravans and mobile homes stationed on the land should only be occupied by gypsies.

The application said “no enforcement action may be taken in respect of them” because “the time for enforcement action has expired”.

It added: “I do not believe that there can be any serious challenge to the fact that use of Oakdale Place has become lawful over the passage of time.

“A certificate of lawful use is therefore sought to confirm that the lawful use of Oakdale Place is as a residential caravan site without complying with the terms of planning permission.”

The target determination date is May 19.