The bitter planning row over Thorpe Island has cost the authority responsible for maintaining the Broads £90,000.

The EDP can today reveal the cost to the Broads Authority in defending their enforcement action against challenges from Roger Wood over the Thorpe St Andrew site since 2011.

The land, near Norwich, has been at the centre of a long-running legal wrangle between Mr Wood and the Broads Authority over its historic planning rights.

The case has been before two planning inspectors already, with a High Court judge deeming the development unlawful and the Court of the Appeal earlier this month refusing permission to appeal that decision.

Yet the row, which dates back to when the site was bought in 2007, may not be over immediately.

Mr Wood – who maintains he does not need planning permission for the moored boats, jetties, pontoons and a container in because of previous owners' rights there – says he will fight the case to the very end.

He can still apply to the Court of Appeal for an oral hearing where he would present his case in person, something he insists he wants to do.

For now, however, the Broads Authority is relieved the legal system has sided with them and say they want to ease the 'stress' suffered by nearby residents.

The legal cost to defend proceedings brought by Mr Wood, which were until February outsourced, have been described as 'far from ideal' by Andrea Long, director of planning and resources.

She said: 'It was our duty to the public to defend our lawful position against repeated challenges through the courts all at the instigation of the landowner.'

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