The top seaside beauty spot in Angus is to be financially cut adrift and denied new development.
Angus Council is to stop clearing Lunan Bay and is expected to reject an application for a caravan site there.
Landowner Hugh Blair Imrie received a letter knocking back his plans for the “jewel in the crown” beach between Arbroath and Montrose.
The council will now only maintain the car park area which Mr Blair Imrie said is rented for around £400 per year after £90,000 of public money was spent upgrading it in 2011.
He said the authority invested in the beach last year to achieve blue flag status for an asset marketed for tourists.
“We got a letter from the council saying it was due to budget restrictions or something like that,” he said.
“It seems if they are not going for the flag then they feel they have no obligation to do anything with the place.”
The refusal of 10 caravan berths, eight tent pitches and a toilet/wash block would mean beach users will continue to do without any provision.
Mr Blair Imrie added: “There won’t be any camping at Lunan Bay in the fields next to the dunes we won’t be allowing that now.
“They keep advertising Lunan Bay but they don’t provide anything, any toilets or any facilities, and now they are not allowing me to put anything up.”
A council spokeswoman said the car park would continue to be managed under the terms of the existing lease.
She added: “This includes picking up litter and providing bins.
“We will also carry out inspections in the area on a weekly basis over the summer, and complete any major repairs as soon as practical.
“However the council will no longer undertake a litter pick up on the dunes or the beach, as this is the responsibility of the landowner.”
The council confirmed a planning application was submitted but said a formal decision is yet to be made.
However, a spokesman for the proposed site said it would be formally refused this week when a cheque for the application fee clears.