MP supports Normandy's 'no more Gypsy pitches' petition - Surrey

From Get Surrey

A petition has been signed by one-third of all households in Normandy – saying ‘no’ to more Gypsy pitches.

Members of the Normandy Action Group (NAG) claim that Guildford Borough Council’s planning department has failed in its duty to protect the area’s green belt and its petition has attracted 380 signatures.

It was handed to the MP for Normandy, Jonathan Lord, at the village hall last week to be passed on to Secretary of State Eric Pickles.

NAG member David Bilbe said: “For the past few years we have been trying to get Guildford Borough Council to understand that Normandy has been on the receiving end of a lot of unauthorised development, in particular Traveller and Gypsy pitches.

“Unlike the other side of Guildford, Normandy, Ash and Worplesdon, along with Effingham, probably carry all the Gypsy pitches for the borough. The residents are fed up to the back teeth with constantly finding themselves getting more pitches.

“We are saying to Jonathan Lord and the Department for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles’ department: ‘Protect us from unauthorised development because Guildford Borough Council won't do it’. ”

A study, carried out ahead of the council’s current local plan consultation, concluded that there was a need within the borough for 43 pitches for Gypsies and Travellers, and six plots for travelling show people, during the next five years.

Mr Lord said: “I share the concern of Normandy residents about the way planning approval has been secured for Traveller pitches in recent years, usually on appeal but also allowing building on green belt areas that would not be open to other residents.

“I don’t think that’s fair and I’m delighted Eric Pickles has set out increasingly robust and tough guidance to councils and to his inspectors that this sort of unauthorised contravention of green belt is not to be allowed to happen in future.”

The MP said it was right that enough pitches should be provided for Travellers but added: “Obviously I would be extremely upset if Normandy was asked to take more than its fair share. Those pitches should be on appropriate sites and spread throughout the borough – and not just in Normandy.”

Mr Pickles recently called in all planning appeals to ensure inspectors follow guidelines.

In July, a decision by the council’s planning committee, regarding a second pitch to the north of Green Lane East, in Normandy, was deferred while officers considered a written statement by local government minister Brandon Lewis.

According to the statement, although each individual case should be considered on its own merits, a shortfall of Traveller sites is unlikely to constitute the special circumstances needed to justify green belt development.

Guildford planning officers decided the statement did not carry enough weight to stop approval of the pitch.

Mr Lord said: “I think they might have misdirected themselves. I’m not sure that that is in keeping with current guidance.”