Ruling over Traveller site near Burn Airfield, Selby, may face challenge - Yorkshire

From the Press

A REPORT into controversial plans for a new Gypsy and Travellers’ site near a Selby village has claimed a decision to grant planning permission could be open to a legal challenge.

Plans to create the new site at Burn Airfield, which would effectively double the 12-pitch site already there, could cost £940,000, and have previously been withdrawn by the council, then resubmitted, despite public opposition.

Burn Against New Site, the residents’ group opposed to the plans, commissioned a report by barrister Simon Randle, who specialises in planning and the environment.

The report said issues including flood zoning, the choice of the Burn site over other brownfield areas, and the scale of the site, had not been properly addressed, and the plans could be implemented equally well elsewhere.

Mr Randle said: “In respect of the planning application, a fair and impartial assessment would conclude that there are many reasons why the application should be refused.

“In my view, should a decision be made to grant permission on the application made, then a challenge to that decision should be made. It will for the reasons set out above and as presently advised have a very good chance of being successful.”

Chris Phillipson, chairman of Burn Parish Council, said: “Mr Randle’s report and conclusions have confirmed that the entire premise behind Selby District Council’s decision to blindly push on with their plans for a new site in Common Lane in Burn, just yards from the existing settled Gypsy and Traveller community, is totally unacceptable.”

see also: Selby Online - Burn Travellers’ site leaves Council ‘susceptible to court challenge’, say campaigners