Villagers opposed to Gypsy camp proposal - Derbyshire

From the Burton Mail

More than 60 people attended an extraordinary parish council meeting to voice their opposition to a retrospective planning application for a Gypsy site.

Netherseal Parish Council called the meeting to allow residents to discuss their concerns over plans for a change of use proposal on land off Acresford Road.

Following strong discussions throughout the meeting, a decision was taken for the parish council to ‘strongly object’ to the application as the proposed development was outside the village boundary and would be detrimental to the surrounding countryside

The following concerns were expressed:

It was considered that the application was retrospective as the applicant is already residing on the site.

The site is in a remote rural location outside the confines of the village and it was not considered that the use of the land for residential purposes is essential to any rural-based activity.

There are already 12 legitimate Traveller sites (some with vacancies) within South Derbyshire, plus others in North West Leicestershire which it was considered should be sufficient and therefore negate the need for the use of agricultural land for this purpose.

The site is situated within the catchment area of the River Mease, which is a Special Area of Conservation.

Concern was expressed that deposits from fires would find their way into the Hooborough Brook and have a detrimental impact on the integrity of the river.

Points raised by the public included that other Traveller sites had started in the same way with one caravan and hadquickly increased in size.

It was also stated that the application says there would be no commercial use, but it has been noted that there was already burning of items giving off noxious fumes taking place on the adjoining land owned by the applicant.

A decision on the application is expected to be made by planners at South Derbyshire District Council in August.