Families could stay at Gypsy site in Langham despite objections - Rutland

From the Rutland and Stamford Mercury

Two Gypsy families could be given permission to reside at a permanent site in Langham despite objections from some villagers.

The Lee and Price families applied to Rutland County Council for permanent occupation of the land on which they currently live at The Paddocks in Oakham Road.

Planning officers have recommended their application should be approved by councillors at a development control and licensing committee meeting on Tuesday.

The Romany families have eight caravans on four pitches on the site, which they moved into in 2008. They were given temporary permission for the site for five years.

In 2011, the families applied for permanent permission but instead the temporary permission was extended until December 2014.

Their latest application, which was submitted in March this year, was met with strong objections from a group of villagers.

The group submitted plans for a travellers site on the sports field at the former Ashwell Prison site in the hope that the families could move there.

They believed it was a more suitable environment for the Gypsies because it is on brownfield land owned by the council.

Some villagers wrote to the council in support of the Gypsy site.

A decision will be taken at Tuesday’s meeting at the council offices in Catmose. Approval is recommended subject to conditions that the site must be used by the two families only; there should only be four pitches; no commercial activities should take place on the land; and that hedge and tree planting around the site should be maintained at a height of no less than three metres.

To see the application in full, visit the council’s website at rutland.gov.uk

see also: The Rutland Times - Gypsy families given permission to stay at site in Langham