FITTIES residents have taken North East Lincolnshire Council to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
The move is in response to the council's refusal to let them stay in their chalets 50 weeks of the year – mainly due to a risk of flooding.
Council leader Councillor Chris Shaw said he would pull the plug on power to The Fitties in the closed season and shut off water, gas and electricity supplies.
He said: "They don't need it after 4.30pm in the closed season. It is a holiday camp, not a residential estate. That is what they signed their leases for."
The leader said he would gladly negotiate with those residents who have abided by the conditions of their leases, but not anyone who has breached their lease.
Councillor Shaw said officers are gathering evidence of Fitties residents who may be in breach of their lease.
The leader said tenants could renegotiate their leases by contacting the council planning department.
It was revealed at a meeting of Fitties' Owners Residents' Association Bungalow (Forab), where chairman Paul Harwood pledged to get as many signatures on a petition which accuses the council of abuse of power as possible.
It will be circulated to residents as well as being available online.
Mr Harwood said it would support the case in the European court, which is expected to be heard possibly in August.
A panel of judges in Strasbourg has received the residents' case accusing North East Lincolnshire Council of abuse of power, failing to uphold the democratic process and the exploitation of its citizens' human rights.
Forab claims NELC, which is the landlord for more than 300 chalets on the Lincolnshire coast, has refused to renew more than 40 per cent of leases since April 2011, which the residents say leaves them without security of tenure.
Mr Harwood told the meeting of about 175 residents the case had been submitted to the judges.
He said: "Thorpe Park gets to choose which eight weeks it closes down and they still allow contractors to stay 52 weeks of the year. The Humber Yacht Club gets access to its site 52 weeks and Pleasure Island opens in January sometimes. Why can't we be here? It is one rule for some, but not for everyone."
He said dog walkers, ramblers and bird watchers had access to the site all year round and demanded residents should have the same rights.
The chairman encouraged supporters to sign an online petition by logging on to www.thefitties.co.uk
