West Lancashire Council Planning Rejects plan for Travellers site in Banks

From the Formby Times

PLANS to keep land in Banks as a Gypsy Traveller site have been rejected by West Lancashire Council.

Mrs Mulvaney applied to retain land west of Mosslands, off Aveling Drive, for the stationing of caravans in August 2010.

But West Lancashire Council’s Planning Committee refused to give permission for the scheme.

Planning officers had recommended the scheme be refused in a report to members.

Officers said the development has an unacceptable effect on the landscape.

In support of her application Mrs Mulvaney had written to the council stating that the lack of allocation of specific sites for Travellers adds weight to the argument that Green Belt sites should be considered favourably.

At the meeting Cllr Mawdsley said: “We have looked at policies to deal with Traveller sites but no one seems to grasp the nettle.

“We must push this forward.”

Cllr Edward Pope, planning committee chairman, said: “We will have to make provision for traveller sites in the Local Plan.

“We are getting new national guidance as to what we will have to put in.”

Alison Heine, planning agent for Mrs Mulvaney, said they were waiting for the letter giving details of the planning committee’s decision to arrive before they planned their next move.

She added that they are likely to appeal.