Gypsy site expansion bid blocked by council - Surrey

THE owner of a Gypsy site on the outskirts of Chertsey has lost his bid to try and expand.
Miles Cash, owner of Walnut Tree Farm in Almners Road, Lyne, had applied to change the use of part of the land to a Gypsy site and develop the existing area to allow for 28 pitches.

Current permission allows for 20 pitches.

However, last week Runnymede Borough Council’s planning committee unanimously agreed to refuse the application, which would also have included single storey mobile homes and a children’s play area on the site.
Speaking at the meeting, Councillor John Furey said: “Considering the enforcement notices the council has currently served on this site, I think this application is very much out of order.”

The owner has until February to remove all mobile homes and caravans on the site for which he does not have permission. He has been told to stop using the site for skip and waste storage and to cease using the land as a holiday camp and caravan park for non-Gypsies.

Planning committee chairman Geoff Woodger said extra berths were not needed in the borough. He said: “We currently do not have enough people using the Gypsy pitches we have in the borough so there is no need for this extension.And we need to remember there are two Gypsy sites either side of this farm. I think the owner should be focusing on ensuring he complies with the enforcement notices issued against the site. This is no place for a business to be run.”

By February, the applicant must also demolish a detached dwelling on the land and remove all fences, gates and walls that have been installed along with a number of sheds.

The site falls within the green belt but the council felt that the application did not show a ‘special circumstance’ to allow it to be granted.

Travellers currently living on the site can remain there under permission granted in 2004.