D-DAY is fast approaching for the owners of the former RAF Sopley camp, near Bransgore.

On Tuesday, November 6, a government planning inspector will convene a public inquiry to decide whether they can continue to operate commercial ventures from the site, now known as Merryfield Park.

In February New Forest District Council gave Peter Hilton (Wickham Ltd) and the Baily family from Bransgore, joint owners of Merryfield Park on the old domestic quarters of the RAF camp, 12 months to cease their illegal use of the site.

Now they, along with digger and dumper driver training school operator Colin Biddlecombe and Janette and Eric Owen, have appealed against the council's enforcement action.

The council alleges various businesses have been allowed to use the site without planning permission.

The owners have been told to stop using it for residential purposes and for storage.

Council officers say the only legitimate use for the site, once used to house the Vietnamese refugees, is as an occasional training and rest camp.

Sue Hounsell, who manages Merryfield Park, previously told the Daily Echo that many of the businesses had been there more than 10 years, which she claimed made them legal.

There are 91 buildings there, 27 of which were in the process of being converted to accommodation before the council stepped in last year.

One has been bought by Mr and Mrs Owen, who are involved in the appeal.

The public inquiry is scheduled to take place in the New Forest District Council chamber at Appletree Court, Lyndhurst, from 10am.