A MARINA owner has lost his appeal with the district council over Roswell Pits. Jeremy Tyrrell, who owns Cathedral Marina and bought Roswell Pit two years ago, was handed a legal notice by the council to remove CCTV, electricity and water cables, as well

A MARINA owner has lost his appeal with the district council over Roswell Pits.

Jeremy Tyrrell, who owns Cathedral Marina and bought Roswell Pit two years ago, was handed a legal notice by the council to remove CCTV, electricity and water cables, as well as concrete hardcore that he had installed at the side of the water-filled former chalk pit.

He appealed the legal notice but after an informal hearing, planning inspector Katharine Peerless gave Mr Tyrrell until October 2009 to carry out the remedial works - extending his deadline.

Both the council and environment agencies insist Mr Tyrell has not been clear about his plans for the site - but the businessman said he would be ready to submit a planning application to the council as early as January of next year. He has angered nature campaigners, who have always claimed he has plans to build a marina.

"There have always been plans for moorings - but nowhere near 500 boats," said Mr Tyrell. "I am amenable to much more public access but what I'm not up for is people walking their dogs all over there. There has been a lot of controversy but it's in the past and I want to ask interested groups to tell me what they want there before we submit a planning application. I invited the Dean, and the MP, but the nature campaigners have refused to come on board."

He spoke of a possible skate park, bird hides and an educational facility for schoolchildren.

Natural England designated the area a Site of Special Scientific Interest earlier this year, in order to protect the bittern, a species of rare bird.

Their representatives were present at the planning hearing and must issue Mr Tyrell with permission forms for carrying out works on the site.

Giles Hughes, head of planning and Economic Development at East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: "The judgement by the Planning Inspectorate vindicates our decision to issue the enforcement notice earlier this year. We had worked really hard to resolve the concerns regarding some of the work which has taken place at Roswell Pits but unfortunately we were left with no other option than to take enforcement action.

"Taking such action is never an easy step but we proved during the hearing that we had a robust case that stood up to very close scrutiny. The owner of Roswell Pits now has an obligation to complete the work and we will be watching very closely to ensure it is completed. We would like to stress how seriously we take unauthorised development in our countryside and we will continue to take action on any landowner who develops land without planning permission.