THIRTY EIGHT people are facing eviction after losing their appeal to stay in mobile homes on a holiday caravan park.

Maidstone Borough Council has been given the green light to force the home owners off Stately Park caravan site, Station Road, Nettlestead.

Worried residents held an emergency meeting, after planning inspector David Rusdale dismissed appeals by site owner John Hilden and seven occupiers against an enforcement notice served on them for breach of planning conditions.

They had disputed a condition on the site's planning permission two years ago, which only allowed people to live on the site for 28 days each year.

The home owners told a public inquiry two months ago that the condition should only require them to interrupt their stays from March to December by one night every 28 days.

Many residents had not been told about the 28-day rule when they bought their homes from Mr Hilden, the inquiry heard.

But Mr Rusdale dismissed their appeals last week, saying: "All of the occupiers should have been aware of the restrictions imposed on the use of the caravan park. Most, if not all of the occupiers have put themselves in this position."

Mr Rusdale said the preservation of the green belt outweighed the interference in residents' human rights by forcing them out of their homes.

He said: "For most of the residents, Stately Park is their only home and they have nowhere else to go. Many of the residents have leased caravans at Stately Park because of hardship and the absence of affordable accommodation elsewhere."

Home owners had told the inquiry they would have to rely on council housing once they were evicted. One of them, Peter White said: "We're gobsmacked. A lot depends on how the council interprets the green light they've got."

Residents refused to comment further until hearing from the borough council.

A council spokesman said: "We are pleased with the inspector's decision in favour of the council. We are considering the next step in relation to the site."

Councillors will consider their options at a meeting of the planning committee of Maidstone Borough Council, on March 20.