MARINA owners have been given four months to take down mounds dubbed the “Great Wall of Bradwell” after losing a planning appeal to keep them.

Maldon District Council rejected Port Flair’s bid for the “earth enclosure” at the entrance to Bradwell Marina in Waterside Road in May last year.

Residents had complained to the council after the banks were constructed without permission.

The council issued an enforcement notice ordering the mounds to be removed – but Port Flair appealed the notice and the refusal.

It claimed the embankment, as high as 1.9 metres in places, was needed for security and to enhance the entrance to the marina.

Now a planning inspector has rejected the appeal.

Port Flair argued the mound provided an “interesting green feature” to the area.

But inspector Wendy McKay said: “I disagree with that assessment of the visual merits of the mound.

“In my view, the mound due to its height, scale and bulk appears as an incongruous and alien feature in the landscape.”

She added it obstructed the panoramic views of the river.

The marina also argued the mound would ease a fear of crime for boat owners and stop travellers accessing the site.

Ms McKay’s report said: “The appellant acknowledged that there was no history of travellers trying to camp on the field nor was any substantial evidence provided to justify the expressed fear and anxiety of boat owners as being reasonably engendered by the prospect of criminal acts taking place at the marina.”

Port Flair told the appeal hearing if they were ordered to remove the mound they would instead plant Leylandii or other shrubs which would restrict views.

Ms McKay said: “It was asserted that the loss of view would occur regardless but the way in which that would be achieved had not yet been finally determined.

“I have no doubt that the appellant fully intends to adopt such a fall-back position in its determination to prevent views being obtained over the land.”

But she said any gate, wall or fence would be subject to planning permission and plants would “not have the same degree of incongruity and incompatibility with the landscape.”

Paul Dodson Director of Planning & Regulatory Services said “The breach of planning control as alleged in the notice is the unauthorised operational development for the creation of the earth embankment. The enforcement notice was varied to allow additional time for compliance but it was upheld and the appeal was dismissed. Maldon District Council will monitor the compliance with the Enforcement Notice as soon as possible after the date for compliance has passed.”