Patching Gypsy caravan is now a farm - Sussex

From the Worthing Herald

A GYPSY caravan is now called a “farm”, it was revealed at a meeting of planning councillors.

In its submission to Arun District Council’s planning committee, Patching Parish Council said this was evidence the occupant had no intention of moving off the site when permission expired on October 6, 2013.

The parish council was objecting to an application to site a storage container on land at Wychway Farm, Selden Lane, Patching.

This container was to be used by the mobile home’s occupier, who was a “recognised Gypsy”, the committee was told by Arun council officers.

The container, measuring 7ft 6in wide/high, and 17ft deep, was to be painted green.

Patching Parish Council’s submission said: “It is quite clear that the applicant, rather than make preparations for moving from the site in two years’ time, is making preparations for a long-term stay – even down to referring to the caravan as Wychway Farm.”

The objection continued: “Patching Parish Council has no animosity towards the applicant, but if every person who wished to settle in a caravan in the parish, let alone the National Park, was allowed to do so, the whole area could become one large caravan park.”

Opposing this “continued erosion of planning regulations”, the submission said at the end of the 24-month period, all mobile homes, caravans, vehicles and equipment brought onto the land in connection with the use should be removed and the land restored to its former condition.

The officers’ report said some areas of hard standing had been created on the site, but the application did not seek permission to retain the mobile home – that decision would be taken by the South Downs National Park when the temporary permission expired in October, 2013.

The council deferred the decision in order for a site visit to be carried out on Tuesday this week.

The application will return to the council at a later date.