A PLANNING inspector has raised concerns about the lack of legal sites for Gyspy and Traveller families around Darlington, after refusing an appeal for a private Gypsy site on the grounds that it would be damaging to local landscape.
The claims have been backed by a local councillor, who said there will be a risk of illegal sites until the council provides enough pitches.
Darlington Borough Council has rejected the claims and said it is ahead of other local authorities on the matter.
The issue was raised by planning inspector Diane Lewis in a report into a planning appeal made by Reuben Rogers, for a private site on land at Aycliffe Lane, in Brafferton, near Darlington, which was rejected by Darlington Borough Council last year.
The council brought enforcement action against Mr Rogers after he moved on to the site despite the failure of his planning application, which he had also appealed.
Ms Lewis upheld the council’s refusal of the application, and the enforcement action, on the grounds that the site would be damaging to the character of the village and the local landscape.
However, she extended the compliance period time of the enforcement notice to 12 months to allow Mr Rogers to find suitable alternative accommodation for his family because of the lack of pitches in the area.
She said: “The emphasis of national policy is for Gypsy and Traveller sites to be in appropriate locations. The appeal site fulfils most of the locational criteria but critically, because of the position of the site on higher ground, it has an unacceptable impact on visual amenity and landscape character.”
She added: “There has been slow progress on responding to the need for additional pitches. The council has failed to allocate and bring forward land for Gypsy and Traveller sites.”
Coun Brian Jones welcomed the decision and said: “I think the residents of Brafferton will be delighted. Its unfortunate for the family that they decided to move there without planning permission and that is reflected in the decision.
“This raises the issue that Darlington Borough Council has to still to find extra sites to accommodate those who want to live that lifestyle. I know they are working on it but until they deal with it there is always a risk of illegal sites.”
A council spokeswoman said: "Darlington is generally ahead of other planning authorities in terms of having a core strategy in place which guides the allocation of new gypsy/traveller sites.
“The next step is to ensure that new sites are supplied and the council is working as fast as it can to achieve this.”
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