Jimmy Purdy and Robert Hayward win eight year council battle

Jimmy Purdy, who owns The Lakes of Hall Road/Battle Rise, Heybridge, had submitted to Maldon District Council to make the lake into a fishing lake, but these plans have been refused for years.

Alongside friend and fellow entrepreneur Robert Hayward, who owns Texo Scaffolding, the pair finally saw the appeal quashed by the council on May 28.

Delighted - The pair are so glad to have finally won their battle (Image: Robert Hayward)

An initial application submitted in 2016 wanted the lakes to be used for fishing with 60 fishing platforms constructed and 54 swims created.

The plans were rejected back in 2019 by Maldon District Council, on the grounds of the bio-diversity value of the Blackwater Estuary Special Protection Area and the protected species which live in the lake.

The appeal was also dismissed due to the character and appearance of the site and the living conditions of the neighbouring occupiers, including noise, disturbance and convenience.

The 2024 appeal has since been won with the enforcement notice was quashed, allowing the pair to have fishermen back on the land.

Smiles - So happy knowing that they can use the lake for fishing (Image: Robert Hayward)

Robert Hayward said: “When we eventually purchased it, partnering with the development companies, we decided to make the place a lot better.

“There was nothing there, there was rubbish everywhere, it wasn’t fenced off and there was no warning for people who could fall into the lake, with a lot of it covered by reeds.

“We were happy when we eventually bought it, we put in dog bins, big expensive life saving equipment. Then we had the resident’s moaning saying they were an eyesore, but they were there to save lives.

“Me and Jimmy as owners, as directors and as fathers, we tried to make it a safer place and if something was to happen, we’d be the ones in court.

“We had a vision to have the lake as a place where people can fish and to be used as a recreational space.

Residents became unhappy about the plans that were in place.

Robert, who owns a drone company, used a drone to map out the area and work out exactly what they own, so they put a fence up around the front and a new metal gate and a proper lock and they had residents coming by and cutting the locks off.

He continued: “A couple of people had heart attacks around the lake and when emergency services tried to get there they couldn’t because of the state of the road.

“We put some fibre down and they told us that we’ve got to remove it.

“They came down to the lake and put up a big enforcement sticker on the gate which said ‘you’re enforced, you can’t fish here’.”

“We got all the local fisherman who have been fishing for years and years to sign a statement of truth and we put packs together of photographs and pictures, all the bins and we won it. We won full costs against the council.”

Now the appeal has been won, Mr Purdy and Mr Hayward have plans in place to improve the site.

They plan to have a members club and to improve the area further, put toilet blocks there and they want to try and sort out some fishing activities for young children.

Mr Hayward spoke of the hard work that Jimmy has done over the years saying: “Jimmy has always given a lot to the community, around Tiptree, Maldon and Heybridge, his whole life.

“He’s a big developer in the area, he’s built houses for people, parks for children and he’s done it for years.

“He’s opened this lake for the good of the people and of course for himself and to win this appeal has been a lifetime achievement and we’re over the moon.”

Maldon District Council refused to comment.