A centuries-old fishing community in Norfolk is facing an uncertain future as a dispute with holiday home owners threatens their livelihood.
Local fishermen are locked in a bitter row with second home owners who have complained about disturbances from the yard where they store their boats and gear.
And North Norfolk District Council has so far sided with the holiday home owners - raising serious questions over the future of commercial fishing in the village.
The dispute centres on a yard about 100 metres from the sea where several fishermen have stored their gear since the early 1980s.
The dispute centres on a yard about 100 metres from the sea where several fishermen have stored their gear since the early 1980s
GB NEWS
When conditions are right, they use tractors to tow vessels along the Marrams, a road which grants access to the beach via a slipway.
But the Marrams is lined by several second homes and holiday lets, whose owners have complained about being disturbed by activity in the yard.
After tensions rose, the yard's owner applied to the council for a Certificate of Lawfulness to ensure proper permissions and resolve complaints.
The council has now rejected this application, and has ruling the yard is not operating lawfully.
Officials concluded that use of the site had "intensified" in recent years, with images showing "more and larger boats" and additional storage.
MORE NEIGHBOUR ROWS:
Local fishermen haul their gear down to this slipway by Sea Palling beach
The site now faces enforcement action - which fishermen fear could make their operations unviable.
Among those affected is Richard Clarke, or "Dicky", who fishes with his brother Jason - the third generation of their family to sail out from Sea Palling.
"If we lost that land then we would not be able to operate how we do," Dicky said. "We have always used it, and it is our base. It would kill it for us."
"We have been going out from Sea Palling for three generations and have never had any complaints."
Locals, in contrast with holiday home owners, have lent their support to the fishermen.
'We have been going out from Sea Palling for three generations and have never had any complaints,' fisherman Richard Clarke said
Mark Casson, who runs the Lifeboat Tavern pub, said: "The whole village is backing the fishermen. We are so proud to have them here."
His colleague Matthew Fernando added: "The whole village is behind them. In a small village like this you have the beauty and the privilege of fishermen fishing off your shores."
The parish council has also thrown its support behind the fishermen.
In a document submitted to the county council, the parish council wrote: "It is iniquitous for people who own only holiday cottages in the village to try and alter something which has been in situ for several decades and is integral to the way of life here."
The yard owner, Fred Page, has vowed to fight on and has recruited a property consultant, David Will.
"We are going to appeal the notice," Will said. "If they lose this, they will go. It will be the final nail in the coffin for the fishing out of Sea Palling."
