Traveller site plans should be refused say Stourport councillors - Worcestershire

From the Shuttle

PLANS for a four-pitch caravan site for Travellers in Stourport should be refused according to town councillors.

At a meeting last night members of Stourport Town Council, who are being consulted on the application by planners at Wyre Forest District Council, said pitches at the Upper Moor Small Holding site on Timber Lane would impact on the green belt and questioned highways arrangements.

Labour councillor Jamie Shaw added the district’s site allocations and policies plan had already made provision for Gypsy and Traveller sites across Wyre Forest until 2017.

“The message needs to go out to those who make speculative plans that we do not go through a planning process taking five years and costing £17,000 to then ignore it,” he said.

The planning application, submitted by Sarah Loveridge, asks for four residential pitches, each with a mobile home, touring caravan, small amenity building and parking for two cars, as well as a play area for children on the site.

Town councillors said their views had not changed since recommending refusal for a similar application for 15 pitches at the location last year, which has since been scrapped.

The recommended refusal, however, does not mean the latest application has been defeated. It is due to be discussed at a meeting of Wyre Forest District Council’s planning committee in July, where a decision will be made.