Plans to merge two fishing lakes have been withdrawn following confusion over whether the water is a river, lake or reservoir.

The owners of the Chigborough Carp Syndicate want to remove a causeway and spit between the lakes east of the Heybridge Swifts football club in Scraley Road, Heybridge and build toilets and disabled and shower facilities.

A decision on the application, which was submitted in September, was expected to be made by Maldon District Council on July 16 but the application was withdrawn the day before.

Martin Lee, one of the owners of the Chigborough Carp Syndicate, said: “It’s been a minefield as to whether we are a river, lake or reservoir but now we know.”

Mr Lee, of Little Baddow Road, Danbury, is now waiting for reports to be made back to the Environment Agency and insists that the group will put their planning application back in.