Newent Gypsies given six months to leave Southend Lane site -Gloucestershire

COUNCIL officers have given Travellers in Newent six months to clear the Southend Lane site.

Enforcement notices have today been served by officers from the Forest of Dean District Council on the occupants and owners of the Gypsy site.

The notices set out the steps that need to be taken by occupants and owners of the land and gives them six months to comply.

Pete Williams, Group Manager for Planning and Housing at Forest of Dean District Council said: “Our officers have today served enforcement notices on the Southend Lane site giving the residents six months to vacate it and allow reinstatement to its original condition as grazing land.

“We appreciate that this timescale may cause concern amongst some residents of Newent who wish to see the site cleared quickly. However, as the local planning authority we must be able to demonstrate that our actions are proportionate and fair.

“Six months is a reasonable length of time to reinstate the land and will allow the occupants and owners time to make alternative arrangements, including schooling for their children.”

Before serving the notices the council says it undertook a full evaluation of the breaches of planning control and judged that it is 'necessary and expedient' to take action.

This follows the appeal taken by the owners and occupiers following the service of a previous enforcement notice in June 2009.

Although that appeal was lost, the Inspector gave the owners and occupiers two years temporary permission on the land they were occupying, to give sufficient time for other sites to be identified as the land was not considered to be suitable for a long term use as a Gypsy site.

The temporary period expired on 31 January this year.