Davenham Gypsy site plans turned down - Northwich

CONTROVERSIAL plans for a Gypsy site in Davenham have been rejected by council officers.

The proposal was to change the use of the land, at the junction of the A533 Davenham bypass and London Road, to a residential caravan site for two Traveller families with four caravans, including two static mobile homes.

The application prompted residents to send hundreds of letters, comments and emails of objection to Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Clr Elton Watson, ward councillor, said: "Many local residents were concerned about the proposed development at this location, not due to nimbyism, but based on sound planning reasons such as concerns of highway safety relating to the access to the site, this has been reflected in the decision made by council officers. In my opinion the site does not lend itself to any type of residential development.”

He said the planning department refused permission on a number of grounds, including that proposed residential use at a green field site was considered harmful to the character of the open countryside and contrary to a number of local planning policies.

The application failed to demonstrate how the site would be adequately screened from view to avoid being detrimental to visual amenity in the countryside location.

There were also concerns regarding the proposed access, with substandard forward visibility on a road subject to the national speed limit and in close proximity to Peckmill Roundabout, on the A533.

The site includes land which lies within an area of ancient woodland, and is next to a site of biological value and the application failed to demonstrate how the proposed development could have been carried out without causing harm to these two sensitive land uses.

Clr Watson said: “I fully support the council's aims of establishing managed Gypsy and Traveller sites in suitable locations that will benefit the travelling community."