Sussex beauty spot earmarked as possible site for Travellers - Sussex

From the Sussex Courier

A public meeting will be held at the Flimwell Cricket Pavillion on June 27 to give residents the chance to speak about the proposals, and a petition is also being circulated.

Richard Barratt, who runs a commercial law firm in The Mount, was unhappy with the district council and believed proper protocol had not been followed.

He said: "Permanent designation of the site as a Traveller site would drive a coach and horses through the credibility of the normal planning process and would effectively reward those who disregard planning laws to the significant detriment of local residents.

"The site does not even meet relevant criteria for Traveller sites, such as access to local services – schools, doctors etc.

"Our objections are not in any way an attack on Gypsies or the travelling community per se; it is the process that has been used, and not following the criteria."

The proposed site at Cherry Tree Nursery currently has one family living on the site who have permission to be there until at least 2014 – a decision by the Planning Inspectorate after Rother said they could only stay until October last year.

Twelve plots in the Rother district were identified as potential sites for Travellers and four were shortlisted, including land in Battle and Brightling.

Some councillors argued the AONB would not be affected because the site is hidden behind an empty agricultural building – although if this knocked down it would be exposed.

Mr Barratt said another caravan was now on site with the possibility of a retrospective planning application being lodged. He hoped the public meeting would encourage more people across East Sussex and west Kent to get involved in the consultation, as the decision on the site was likely to impact on other councils' policies.

"The meeting is to make residents aware of what is going on, but we haven't decided the form yet.

"It is an open meeting so anyone can attend."

Rother District Council said it was still in the process of assessing the site and any decision would include a formal public consultation.

Head of planning Tim Hickling said: "Cabinet members specifically asked officers to examine land at Cherry Tree Nursery in greater detail, given comments by residents and other enforcement issues, and that process is still taking place to determine whether this site should be put forward for consultation as a permanent site for Gypsies and Travellers.

"Our draft Development and Site Allocations Plan, in which any potential sites for Gypsies and Travellers will be identified, is currently timetabled for a six-week consultation in spring 2014 and we will welcome comments from residents at this time.

"The plan will be independently examined before it is formally adopt