Fight against plans for Gypsy site gathers pace - Cheshire

From wilsmlow.co.uk

Residents took their fight to prevent a Gypsy site being built off Moor Lane to Mobberley yesterday.

About fifty local residents attended a planning committee meeting of Mobberley Parish Council to express their concern over plans for a Gypsy pitch on green belt land.

The proposed site is on the outskirts of Wilmslow but falls within the Parish of Mobberley.

Earlier in the week over 100 local residents attended a meeting of the Wilmslow Town Council Planning Committee to object to the plans which have been submitted by Matthew Green, of Green Planning Solutions, who has been dubbed the 'Gypsy King' for his tireless advocacy for Gypsies seeking the legitimization of illegal dwellings on green belt sites.

The submitted plans for the 0.46 hectare site, which show one proposed mobile home, one proposed touring caravan and a proposed utility/day room, have been criticised for being unclear and many residents fear the intention is for a lot more caravans to occupy this site.

Speaking at last night's meeting Terry Sleigh of Moor Lane said "What we have to consider is that it is green belt which can only be built on in exceptional circumstances. I do not see any reason for any sort of exceptional circumstances.

"If what is proposed did go ahead we are looking at hard standing for one caravan with a day room which contains washing facilities, toilet facilities and cooking facilities. Why on earth do they need a day room for one caravan?

"We will see a lot of the travelling community coming down to this plot.

"It will have a huge impact on the environment which is already under threat at Lindow Moss and lead to increased traffic on a single track road with no curbs, which is already carrying more traffic than we would want to see. This will increase damage to the road surface and congestion.

"There will also be an impact on local schools as the travelling community have a right to education. All the schools have an outstanding performance and are already full but they will have to take the children and provide free school meals and uniforms that are paid for by us."

Concerns were also raised about the effect on local amenities, such as sewage and rubbish collection and a couple of residents asked why a private application needs to be considered when Cheshire East Council has already allocated sites for the travelling community.

A lady who has run a business on Water Lane for the past 14 years said "Every time Gypsies are in town we have to be overstaffed and all holidays are cancelled. It is an absolute nightmare with shoplifting - the knock on effect for local traders will be immense."

Whilst there was a lot of fear in the room it was acknowledged by local residents that they need to oppose the application on planning grounds, most importantly the fact it is green belt land.

It was also suggested that a group of local residents get together and get some professional advice "because the people who put in the application have paid a lot of money to get experts."

Terry Sleigh added "A group of us have been knocking on doors to ask people to oppose the application. We have been surprised at how many people are still ignorant of the plans."

Members of Mobberley Parish Council Planning Committee voted unanimously to recommend refusal of the planning application.

The planning application, reference 12/1144M, can be viewed on the Cheshire East Council website. Representations have to be submitted by May 11th and at the time of writing over 130 objections to this planning application had been submitted to Cheshire East Council.