'Recipe for long-term strife' in Byfleet plans - Surrey

From Get Surrey

A CAMPAIGNER has warned of "long term strife" as opposition to plans for a Gypsy site on a Byfleet green belt continues to mount.

John Bond, of the Byfleet Residents’ Action Group, wants the borough’s councillors to refuse a controversial planning application to avoid "discord" in the community.

Plans for the Gypsy plot were submitted in late May after a similar proposal was made invalid in January, where land south of Murray’s Lane was due to be used as four pitches for an extended Romani Gypsy family, with caravans, day rooms and a sewage tank.

The new application has received more than 1,000 new objections despite including new information outlining the family’s "very special circumstances".

A petition to preserve the green belt site exceeded its target of 2,000 signatures, reaching 2,500 in one month.

In a letter to the council, Mr Bond said: “No special circumstances apply for a Traveller site in Byfleet.

“While the application mentions personal problems, these only apply to their current location and have no bearing on this application in Byfleet.”

He claimed that other members of the Gypsy family, who already live in land north of Murray’s Lane, have already caused conflict in the community.

“The Romani Gypsy family has caused a statutory nuisance to many residents by pig odours and bonfires and the only thoroughfare available for local residents to the canal and countryside has already been blocked on several occasions for the family to pasture its goat herd,” he said.

Application 're-submitted'

Charmaine Valler, part of the travelling community living on the Byfleet site, declined to comment on Mr Bond’s claims.

The new application, which the action group describes as a "resubmission", states the Valler and Smith families have pitches in Guildford, where they feel threatened by other residents and the site is particularly unsafe for children, who have been knocked over by cars twice during the past year.

Woking Borough Council, which does not have the power to withdraw applications, can advise an applicant to withdraw if it deems it necessary.

Head of planning for the council, Jenni Jackson, in response to a Freedom of Information request sent by Mr Bond, said the previous application was not technically withdrawn.

“The application was made invalid by the planning authority as it became clear that the red line included land outside the applicant’s control,” she wrote to Mr Bond on June 25.

“Once the plan was amended the application was validated. This is within the due process,” she explained.

Mr Bond said: “It is clear that there will be constant discord as the two groups must share a small lane.

“For residents it is the only safe pedestrian route to the country and for the Travellers it is a pathway through the middle of their land – this is a clear recipe for long term strife and why it is vital that this application is refused.”

Members of the action group were due to meet for the annual meeting of the Byfleet, West Byfleet and Pyrford Residents’ Association on Thursday night (June 27).