From the Shields Gazette
OWN Hall officials are on a collision course with farm owners over “momentous” plans for South Tyneside’s first permanent Gypsy site.
Planners are recommending the go-ahead for construction of 11 four-metre-high brick buildings to provide kitchen and bathroom facilities, utility storage and general living space at the Travellers’ site in West Pastures, off Newcastle Road, West Boldon.
The 7,600 sq metres area is currently classed as a temporary site.
But if, as recommended, South Tyneside Council’s planning committee gives the application the go-ahead – it will become permanent.
The application has raised the hackles of nearby farm owners – including Scott’s House Farm, Northmoor Farm, Strother House Farm and West Moor Farm – who object to building on green belt agricultural land and claim the land “has been a mess” since Travellers used it.
In a report to the committee, a spokesman for Scott’s House Farm says: “There’s a burnt-out wagon, wrecked caravans and building rubbish.
“This proposal is a gross over-development of the site.
“They are our closest neighbour and we have been disturbed by noise late at night, and there has been an incident with a gun on the site.”
A spokesman for Strother House Farm adds: “The whole approach to the owners placing caravans on the site has been without regard to the planning authority, neighbours and the environment.
“Trees were felled, hedges destroyed and ground stripped of soil, levelled and hardstanding provided in a weekend.
“Then the caravans arrived and they took up residency, so that there was no danger of an enforcement order being served.
“The Travellers had then arrived and began to chisel away at the local authority to retrospectively grant permission to stay.”
After a public inquiry, temporary planning permission for the site was granted in March 2008 for a three-year period, which expired in March 2011.
It has since been identified as a “suitable site for Gypsy/Traveller development” in the council’s development plan.
Heine Planning Consultancy, representing the Travellers, stressed the importance of access to amenities in each of the caravan plots.
A council spokesman said: “All councils have a legal requirement to provide for the local accommodation needs of the Gypsy and Traveller community.
“The various issues and objections in connection with the application will be considered at the meeting.”
The committee will meet at South Shields Town Hall on Monday, December 9, from 10am.
see also: The Shields Gazette - Travellers’ planner praises South Tyneside Council for Gypsy site decision
The Shields Gazette - Inspector paved way for Gypsy camp decision
The Sunderland Echo - Farmers anger at plans for permanent Travellers site on Sunderland border
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