Planners turn down travellers' bid to stay - Forset of Dean

From the Forrester

Gypsies living in a field near Newent are facing eviction after a planning application to allow them to stay was turned down.

The application called for the stationing of 13 gipsy caravan pitches with provision of utility buildings, propane gas tanks, an access road and drainage facilities.

Ecological matters, the lack of a sustainable energy assessment and the intensity of the development compared with other dwellings near the field were flagged up by planning officers as areas of concern.

Peter Tufnell, speaking on behalf of Newent Residents Against Inappropriate Development, said by arriving en masse during a Bank Holiday in 2009 the Gypsies had stolen a march on the planning committee.

“It is our view that this development will have a detrimental effect on the environment,” he said.

District councillor and Newent mayor Len Lawton said there was no absolute need for the Southend Lane field to become an approved site for Travellers as other sites had now been identified in the Forest.

“The planning inspector made a very clear decision on this,” said Mr Lawton.
“This is a piece of greenfield land that needs to be returned to its original state.”

The council is currently planning to evict the Gypsies from Southend Lane at the end of the summer.

Last month, the travellers issued an appeal against the council’s bid to enforce a decision that should have seen them leave at the end of January.