Seven extra caravans turned down on Higham on the Hill Gypsy site - Leicestershire

PLANS to add an extra seven caravans to an existing Gypsy site were thrown out at a meeting of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council.

There is one caravan already on the gravelled land at Pinehollow Barn in Stoke Lane, Higham on the Hill, which was granted permission back in 2008 with the condition that it only be the one Gypsy family that lived there.

A planning statement by the applicant, Mr Price, said the plans only sought to increase the intensity of the site’s existing use as a residential caravan facility.

Paul Worrall, who lives about 10 metres away from the caravan site, said: “This is an unacceptable site being brought forward and rushed through.

“It shows a complete lack of due care and attention to all parties involved, including the people who would be living there.

“The site will be over-developed and it will irreversibly change the character of the area.”

And this view was shared by MP David Tredinnick who wrote to the council saying that it would be over-intensive, out of character with the rural area and cause highways problems.

Despite no objections from the Highways Authority, other councillors agreed that the road was not able to sustain a development of that size.

Councillor Reg Ward (Con, Ambien) said: “I have lived and worked in that area since 1947.

“That is a dangerous road.

“I feel that this application and the officer’s assessment of it is so full of holes I would use it to strain vegetables.”

Councillors refused permission on the grounds that the plans would cause a visual intrusion into the countryside, that it was not appropriate to scale and that it was not in reasonable distance of shops and other facilities.