Shropshire Gypsy site shortage to be revealed at inquiry

From the Shropshire Star

A shortfall in Gypsy sites in Shropshire should not signal a “free-for-all” for Travellers to set up home anywhere in county, a planning appeal will be told next week.

But the appeal into a controversial bid by a Traveller family to stay on land in Gobowen will also be told the site is the only one available to them because all sites run by Shropshire Council are full.

The appeal on Wednesday in Oswestry will be the second time Jerry and Michelle Berry have gone to appeal over their plans for land opposite Henlle Park Golf Club.

Submissions have been lodged by Shropshire Council outlining why the authority rejected the couple’s application for a chalet, a touring caravan and an amenity building at the site in May.

The council paper also says the authority is working to develop more Gypsy and Traveller sites in the county.

It says: “There is currently a shortfall in the site allocation for Gypsy and Travellers county-wide.

“However, the council is making significant in-roads into meeting this provision both in terms of decision taking and policy formulation.

“The assessed need over the period from 2007 to 2017 is 93 pitches for Gypsy and Travellers; to date the council has given consent for 40 pitches, some allowed on appeal. The outstanding demand is 53 pitches.

“Whilst the council acknowledges it has a shortfall, this factor should not result in a free-for-all. Checks and measures still need to be applied on a site-by-site basis.”

The submission says in the last 14 months the council has allowed 20 pitches and refused 13.

It adds: “This demonstrates that the council is exercising a judgement on a case-by-case basis and applying its policies. There is not a policy for approving everything in the light of the council’s shortfall in provision nor is the council refusing everything.”

In the applicants’ submission to the appeal hearing they say they have long standing connections to the area and were aware that the official sites run by the county council are full.

They further say the council has not been able to point to any suitable, available, affordable alternative sites in the area.

The planning appeal hearing will take place at the council offices in Castle View, Oswestry, on Wednesday, starting at 10am.