Permission denied for Welwyn Gypsy site

FIVE Gypsy families bidding for permission to move on to land in an exclusive residential street, have been refused.

Neighbours of the site in The Avenue in the Oaklands area of Welwyn, turned up in force at Wednesday night’s meeting of Welwyn Hatfield Council’s planning committee to show they were unhappy with the proposals.

Applicant Mr Rooney wanted to bring in five residential caravans for his five children, their partners and children on to the plot.

Joseph Jones addressed the committee on Wednesday night on behalf of the Rooney family.

He said Mr Rooney had a case for “very special circumstances” for building on the Green Belt, arguing the case of the Human Rights Act and the health of the applicant’s wife should both be taken into consideration.

Resident Colin Hukin told the committee the plans were inappropriate and there was insufficient evidence to say the site was being used by Gypsies.

He added if permission was granted the council would not be able to prevent caravans moving on to neighbouring sites also owned by applicant.

As councillors discussed the application, they were heckled by some in the audience, one of whom was heard shouting derogatory slurs towards councillor Caron Juggins, who voiced her opinion.

Cllr Steven Markiewicz said the site was being used by transient workers and the site was being run as a business.

Cllr Helen Bromley added: “This is not the right way to go about getting a somewhere to live.”

Councillors voted to refuse the application by 14 votes to one, and agreed enforcement action to secure the removal of caravans from the site. This notice can be appealed within 28 days, after which the landowner has three months to comply, before the council reviews and takes “other, suitable, legal means to rectify the situation.”