PLANS to make the unofficial Traveller camp on Haldon permanent have been backed by Teignbridge councillors.
The district council's executive committee agreed to support Teign Housing in its bid to turn the long-standing unauthorised site into a smaller, fit-for-purpose encampment.
Some £1.1million has been secured from the Homes and Communities Agency for it.
Residents have lived at the camp on the ridge between Telegraph Hill and Haldon Hill for more than 10 years.
The funding is for 15 pitches in Teignbridge.
The success of the bid was based on providing a smaller site at Haldon with proper facilities.
The new site will include pitches for permanent residents, along with toilets, showers and power.
Since it was first occupied in August 2001, the site has been unauthorised but 'tolerated' by local authorities.
There are now an estimated 30 households on the site with 40 adults and 25 children.
The permanent site will require planning permission, a process which is already under way.
Up to £100,000 extra is needed to help progress the proposal to planning stage.
Teignbridge Council supported the plans at its executive meeting on Wednesday, February 8.
Teignbridge has said, in principle, it will fund one third of that as long as Teign Housing and Devon County Council also contribute.
If planning consent is approved, ownership of the land will be transferred from Devon County Council to Teignbridge District Council.
Just how much consultation has there really been here with the community at Haldon? Why on earth are a third party organisation taking ownership of this land? Devon County needs to speak directly with the residents of Haldon Hill themselves and offer them the land ownership and funding for their own site here.
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