RESIDENTS who face losing their homes in a planning row have pleaded for support in their fight.

Twenty six people who live at Holme House Farm, on the outskirts of Kendal, could be evicted so their homes can be demolished under council plans.

Fifteen dwellings at the Skelsmergh site were built without planning permission and an enforcement notice has been issued by South Lakeland District Council.

A public inquiry in the new year will decide whether the chalets have to be removed.

Farmer Edward Steele said the area’s shortage of affordable housing had made the homes necessary.

And he slammed local planners for “ridding people of the chance to live in the area”.

Mum-of-three Sarah Richmond, 35, who has lived at the site for five years, said there was a lot of despondency among residents.

“The news that there is going to be a public inquiry has had a devastating impact on us because we know the decision could go against us,” she said.

“Where would we go? There is a great community here of people who want to live among nature and out of the rat race.”

Mr Steele said: “We started putting the homes up 25 years ago bit by bit because people said they wanted to stay here and now there are people living all across the site.

“I have offered people a lifestyle that they want. It is quiet and peaceful here. I’ve never applied for planning permission.

Why would I when I know that the authorities are dead against us?

“Everyone is extre-mely worried about what might happen.

“This site is not damaging the country-side, it is helping encourage nature.”

Another resident, Johnny Casey, 29, said: “Everyone is worried that we could lose this place.” Andy Roe, SLDC’s development control manager, said: “It is in a location that would not normally be expected to gain planning permission for developments of this kind.

“There is also the environmental impact and the precedent it would set for others looking at farm diversity schemes.”

Mr Steele has already gained a cert-ificate of lawfulness for four other chalets built without planning permission, because they have been in place for more than ten years.

As well as being located in the countryside the site is listed as a European special area of conservation because of its proximity to the River Sprint.

The Environment Agency says because of this the area is at risk of flooding.