A PLANNING appeal to decide the future use of Merryfield Park at Sopley has been put on hold for three months.

New Forest District Council now has six weeks to decide whether to withdraw its planning enforcement notice or proceed with a resumed inquiry in February.

If the council withdraws the enforcement it can then issue a new notice.

The problem centres on the lack of "common ground" agreements between the council and the appellants, the Baily family of Bransgore, Peter Hilton (Wickham) Ltd, Colin Biddlecombe and Janette and Eric Owen.

The common ground is required to be agreed between the opposing parties as a prerequisite of planning law to save time in argument over minor matters at appeal hearings.

The current enforcement notice alleges various businesses have been allowed to use the park, the former domestic quarters of RAF Sopley, in Derritt Lane, without planning permission.

The owners have been told to cease using the site for residential purposes and for the storage of caravans, trailers, tyres, disused vehicles, heavy plant and machinery, blocks, bricks, shipping containers, plastics, boats and other waste items.

The council says the only legitimate use of the park is an occasional training and rest camp.

Meanwhile, the owners say the camp has been used for the other purposes for more than 10 years and is therefore legal.

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

One has been bought by Mr and Mrs Owen, who are among the appellants.

Also appealing is Mr Biddlecombe, who runs a digger and dumper training school at Merryfield Park.

Another business that will be affected if the council is successful is Wessex Fire Services Training, run by Keith Allgood.

He uses the former fire station at the camp to provide firefighting training for businesses and organisations and says he will have to shut if Merryfield Park is to close.