Friday, 28 September 2012

Community council claims Crook of Devon Moss Travellers' site report was misleading - Kinross-shire

From the Courier

Fossoway and District Community Council said there were ''significant material and verifiable errors'' in a report placed before August's meeting of the development management committee.


It had recommended approval for the Crook of Devon Moss site application for five permanent Gypsy/Traveller stances.

The community council has referred the matter to Perth and Kinross Council's complaints and governance officer, listing four ''material'' errors it claims could have misled the committee.

They include matters concerning the settlement boundary, and perceived misinterpretation of national policy on Gypsy/Traveller sites.

The complaint also claims there was an objection to the plan by SEPA, which was not flagged up, and that the need for new sites was overestimated.

The community council's Alastair Lavery said: ''The overall effect of these errors is to create an impression in the report… that the proposed development was less contentious in planning terms than it is.

''These errors could only mislead readers of the report and, given its status as a report to the development management committee, lead to an erroneous and perhaps illegal decision.''

A separate letter has also been sent to the council head of planning and regeneration, David Littlejohn, by community council chairman Sandy Morrison, claiming a ''lack of local engagement'' over the issue has caused ''significant reputational damage'' to the department.

Part of the application for the Crook Moss site, a former rubbish dump, is in retrospect because there have been Gypsy/Travellers living there since March.

A number of caravans are already on the site, including one semi-permanent chalet-style caravan. Surfaces have been put in place to act as stances and portable toilets have been erected.

Objectors are furious the occupants have been dumping ''grey water'' waste and making noise with their generators and accuse them of ''riding roughshod'' over local opinion.

Although the issue was deferred as councillors sought additional information about drainage and potential contamination, they did suggest it could be approved in the future.

However, local councillor Mike Barnacle said there should be a ''cast iron refusal'' when the matter returns before committee, adding: ''It is yet another example of large-scale objection by a community and local councillors being ignored by council planners.''

The applicant has been invited to submit a fresh application or further information to planners.

A council spokesman acknowledged that a complaint has been received but said it was unable to comment on an ongoing planning matter.

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