Travellers to appeal latest planning permission refusal for Hullavington site - Wiltshire

From the Wiltshire Gazette and Herald

Travellers who have been living on a field near Hullavington for three years are to appeal against a planning decision that has refused to allow them to settle there.

The appeal will be heard on July 31 at Wiltshire Council’s Monkton Park offices at 10am.

Plans to allow the change of use from a field to a permanent site for six caravans and associated works were thrown out by the Northern Area Planning Committee in March.

The Irish Travellers moved six caravans onto the Rose Field caravan site in April 2009 but were ordered to stop building work by planning officers.

Their subsequent planning application was turned down so they appealed, but this too was dismissed in June 2010.

Planning officers recommended that the latest application to the committee for occupation of the field be granted, but the majority of councillors voted against it.

Case officers decided that roads C1 north and C1 south, which exit the site to join the A1429, are dangerous as visibility is poor.

Planning consultant Tony Phillips from Thurdleigh Planning Consultancy Ltd has worked with the Travellers to secure their future on the site.

He said children on the site are enrolled in schools, and several travellers have health needs that require care from doctors.

For more information on the appeal, which is expected to last for one day, visit Wiltshire Council’s planning website and use application number 11/03790/FUL.