Gypsies appeal over ‘illegal camp’ in East Harting - Hampshire

From the Midhurst and Petworth Observer

A GYPSY family has lodged an appeal with a government planning inspector following refusal of its retrospective planning application to change the use of controversial Three Cornered Piece in East Harting to a Traveller site.

Christopher and Jimmy Searle applied to the South Downs National Park Authority for a change of use permission, including the retention and provision of concrete hardstandings.

Their latest action comes after this was turned down.

Despite their application, the Searles, who own the site, moved off in August, which villagers believed signalled the end of a battle which had raged for more than three years.

After losing a court action, the Searles were ordered to remove their caravans from the site by August 16 and the remaining added developments by September 16.

But in the latest twist to the Three Cornered Piece saga, the Searles have gone back to planning inspectors to appeal the change of use refusal.

Director of planning at the national park authority Tim Slaney said members of the public had until Wednesday, December 4 to make any comment to the planning inspectorate at Temple Quay House in Bristol.

Villagers at Harting believed the battle of the ‘illegal’ Gypsy encampment had finally ended in August.

The controversy had been raging since the end of 2009 when the family moved on to the site without planning permission.

Chichester District Council took enforcement action demanding the removal of the mobile homes in 2009.

The Gypsy family appealed and their case was called in by local government secretary Eric Pickles.

The resulting High Court battle rejected the Gypsies’ appeal despite a planning inspector recommending Mr Pickles to grant temporary three-year planning permission.

In addition, Portsmouth County Court ruled earlier this year the Searles were in breach of an injunction granted in 2010, to stop any further works on the land and were ordered to leave.

But in June this year the issue erupted again with the retrospective plan to change the use of the site to a Traveller site.

The move was met by outrage from objectors who claimed it flew in the face of the rulings of the High Court, Portsmouth County Court and government planning inspectors.

Planning consultant Alison Heine, a Gypsy and Traveller specialist, submitted the plans.

She said while the previous appeal decision was a ‘material consideration’, there now had to be regard for current circumstances and policy: “Harm to the national park should be accorded substantial weight. But this is a case where there are other considerations that clearly outweigh the harm.”