Gypsies to finally pay back council - Derbyshire

From the Burton Mail

GYPSIES which owe tax payers more than £2,000 in costs after ignoring an enforcement notice will now pay up after plans for their caravan site were approved.

John Connors already has permission for a Gypsies site on land north of Cauldwell Road, Linton, but ‘disappeared’ after he lost an appeal against an enforcement notice which would force him to remove unauthorised material he tipped on site.

After the appeal in 2009, Mr Connors was told the pay South Derbyshire District Council £2,565.01 in costs, but despite using a debt recovery agency, the authority could not track him down.

On Tuesday, members of South Derbyshire District Council’s planning committee approved his new plans which seek to amend several conditions. These include reducing the number of permanent caravans on site from four to three, lowering the front boundary wall and gate piers and deleting a previously approved toilet/shower block.

Members were told by council planners that concern had been raised by residents over its ‘lack of action’ in recovering the costs. The council was told: “We have been unable to trace the applicant even by the debt recovery team. (If the application is not approved) the council has to make a decision on whether it is worth spending tax payers money (to recover the costs). Such a decision is not taken lightly and could run into thousands of pounds.”

Members decided that if the permission was granted, which resulted in the applicant living on the site, the authority would have a better chance at recovering its costs that it won at appeal because it would then know where the applicant is living. It could also enforce the removal of the tipped material in line with the enforcement notice.

Stephen Clarke, agent acting on behalf of Mr Connors, said: “This has been the subject of much concern. Whether it be through ignorance and lack of advice, things were done on the site which were not authorised.

“There was an enforcement notice served but the cost to remove unauthorised works means we have this Mexican standoff and the eyesore remains.

“They have supported the process of decision and debate and have kept away from the site.”

He added that other problems including flytipping was an inevitable problem with a vacant site but said blame cannot laid upon the applicant.