Travellers' site at Stokesley set for refusal as residents raise concerns - Yorkshire

From the Gazette Live

Proposals for a one-family Gypsy site in Stokesley look set to be rejected amid concerns from residents.

Hambleton Council has received a planning application for the change of use of a field on Thirsk Road to a site for a Gypsy family.

This would include the siting of a residential caravan, construction of dog kennels, a tree house and sheds as well as a stable block.

The authority has received more than 30 letters of objection - including criticism that the development, which has already commenced, has “gone unhindered for many months”.

Planning officials have now recommended councillors refuse planning permission at a meeting tomorrow.

This is on the grounds that the area is at a high risk of flooding and the “intrusive features” of parts of the development.

Stokesley Parish Council also objects to the application on the grounds there is no “robust” flood risk assessment.

It also said the riverbanks and hedges are not high enough to screen the proposed stable block.

Parish councillors added they support residents’ objections.

The 0.9 acre site has an existing entrance which is jointly used by the Environment Agency to access and service an existing screen within the stream running through the site.

In the planning application, the applicant, Jonathan Stephenson, said: “The stable block will be positioned behind the flood defence embankment and behind the existing boundary hedge to minimise the impact on the landscape.”

He adds that the residential area is also screened by an existing dense hedge with a timber fence adjacent to the caravan.

But “if on inspection it is felt that additional landscaping is required to further screen the caravan then this would be provided to a mutually agreed scheme”.

Mr Stephenson concludes: “We believe that the site being close to the service centre of Stokesley and being well screened and having a small paddock area is ideal for use as a site for one Gypsy family.”

Hambleton Council said only a few neighbours were notified of the application by letter because of the “relatively isolated nature of the site”.

But it added that the observations they had received indicate “wide public knowledge of the application”.

Among locals’ concerns are that more sites could be allowed if the application is approved.

Objectors are say sufficient sites are available nearby.

One neutral comment has also been received by the council on the grounds that the site is for one family only.