Crealy Great Adventure Park, near Exeter, Devon, UK, has won its bid to prevent the local authority taking enforcement action against it in a planning row over the construction of two rides.

The park has successfully appealed against an East Devon District Council (EDDC) decision to refuse Lawful Development Certificates for a rollercoaster and a swinging pirate ship ride, constructed in 2000 and 2002 respectively. RPS Planning and Development, which appealed the refusals on the park's behalf, argued the council could not take enforcement action against the rides as they are operational developments and have been in place for four years.

The council, which had previously advised the park that no planning consent was required to build the rides, refused the applications on the grounds that the rides were just a use of land and had not operated for 10 years. RPS director Nick Laister said: "This is an important case and affects any amusement park ride in the UK that is physically attached to the ground (as opposed to travelling rides) that was built between four and ten years ago.

"Such rides are lawful after four years, not ten years, and if they are operating in an amusement park, adventure park or similar attraction, a council is unable to take enforcement action against their use." BALPPA - the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions - also supported Crealy Great Adventure Park's appeal. Meanwhile, the attraction has recently received planning consent for a log flume and a carousel, as well as a Lawful Development Certificate as a whole.