Planners to visit Travellers' camp - Cheshire

From Warrington Worldwide

PLANNING bosses at Warrington are to visit a controversial Travellers' camp before deciding if it can be expanded.

Members of the borough council's development management committee decided they should see the Green Belt site in Cartridge Lane, Grappenhall, before reaching a decision.

Traveller John Smith is seeking a retrospective change of use of part of the site to enable two mobile homes and 10 touring caravans to be sited there.

Utility blocks, a septic tanks and additional hard standing are also included in the application.

Temporary permission to use the site was granted after an appeal in 2008, despite furious opposition from nearby residents and parish councils.

This consent expired in October 2011 so the current development is unauthorised, according to planning officers.

New objections have been lodged by Grappenhall and Thelwall Parish Council, Appleton Parish Council, borough councillor Ted Finnegan, South Warrington MP David Mowat and 34 nearby residents.

Planners say unlike the proposals put forward in 2008, the new application would represent a "major" development if it were for conventional housing.
Approval of the application would facilitate the evolution of the site into a significant base for the applicants, their various businesses, their vehicles and animals

In a report to the committee, officers say: "Given the lack of quantitative need and the absence of a robust case showing how the applicants may have sought to secure an alternative site, it is concluded that the impact of the proposal on the Green Belt would be harmful by way of inappropriateness - and that such harm is not outweighed by exceptional circumstances.

But solicitors representing the Travellers argue that Warrington has still not provided adequate official camp sites for Travellers

Officers are recommending the application be refused.