BOSSES at a popular wedding venue want the go-ahead to use a pavilion at historic Braxted Park for another seven years.

The venue is applying to Maldon District Council to continue using the pavilion after the current permission runs out in October.

The historic estate has been used as a wedding venue and cookery school since 2005.

Bosses say the pavilion is an important part of the park.

A spokesman said: “The pavilion has become such a valuable asset to Braxted Park Estate that it is considered to be unreasonable to only grant planning permission for a further limited period of time.

“Planning conditions could be used to ensure that the pavilion would not become a permanent feature, but would remain in place until it was no longer required by the estate for its weddings and events business.”

Historic England and Great Braxted Parish Council have raised no objections to the proposal.

The Essex Gardens Trust said that the pavilion should be allowed to remain in place for the time being.

However, the trust said the building should not be allowed to become a permanent fixture in the park.

A spokesman for the group added: “It is difficult to dispute the conclusion that for the moment the less than substantial harm to the setting is outweighed by the economic benefits which have helped make it possible to restore the Braxted Park Estate.

“However, it should be recognised that this is not a long-term solution.

“The marquee has only proved acceptable because its appearance is largely screened within the northern compartment of the walled garden.

“It is not a structure that compliments the wider setting, and indeed now that the surrounding garden and surroundings have been restored to a high standard, it appears increasingly incongruous.

“Eventually it should either be removed or replaced by a sensitively designed building.”