New Gypsy pitches for Greenacres site? - Sussex

From the Rye and Battle Observer

A GYPSY has submitted a planning application to increase the size of a traveller’s site in Battle.

Ms Searle, who lives on the Greenacres site in Loose Farm Lane, is seeking permission for two new mobile homes and two tourers at the western end of the site.

She says the homes would be occupied by her children and grandchildren.

But a number of Hastings Road residents have already objected to the plans for the pitches on agricultural land.

Some have expressed concerns about potential noise issues and access and road safety.

Battle Town Council has also registered its objections, branding the application “an inappropriate use of agricultural land within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Strategic Gap (between Battle and Hastings).”

There are already two permanent pitches at Greenacres.

The caravans appeared, without planning permission, in summer 2010.

Rother Council refused planning permission but the decision was overturned by the Government Planning Inspectorate just over a year later.

In her supporting statement for the latest application, Mrs Searle said: “The site is in my family’s ownership and would provide accommodation units for my children and grandchildren, all in a ‘second and third’ generation situation, including daughters returning home to have their baby. Many Gypsy sites have had problems caused by there being mixed families on one site, so here it would not be a problem as the families can sort things that come up.

“We all remember the issue of generator noise in the early days of dealing with my case at High Views, but there would be no repeat of that as all mains services can be run to the pitches across land that I have title to.

“Hopefully you can see the positive points here as there would be no third party involvement and the site can help the council in the search for more pitches.”

Rother District Council is due to discuss the planning application on May 16.