Dismay as rejected Gypsy site in Willington is to be reconsidered - Derbyshire

From the Derby Telegraph

RESIDENTS in a Derbyshire village are opposing resubmitted plans for a Gypsy site that have already been rejected by a local authority.

An application has been put in again for two caravans housing four Gypsy families at The Castle Way, Willington.

South Derbyshire District Council threw out the plans in May because of concerns it might affect the local character and nearby residents.

But the applicant has re-applied, much to residents' dismay.

Alan Gifford, of Hall Lane, said: "I don't think this application will improve the area because normally such sites are not tidy.

"It's clean there now and I'd rather it stayed like that because it's not doing any harm."

Martyn Ford, district councillor for Willington and Findern, said: "My personal view is the decision to reject this application is completely right.

"The reasons from residents are very sound and South Derbyshire has a history of Gypsy applications – some have been granted whilst others have been rejected.

"It's important to point out I'm not anti-Gypsy because we have accepted sites in the past."

John Orme, of St Michael's Close, Willington, believes the site is not suitable for the Gypsies themselves.

He said: "It's a big piece of land surrounded by busy traffic routes with noise and pollution. From a human point of view, I don't agree with it."

Willington resident Marion Keeling said she had written a letter of objection to the council about the site.

She said: "I objected to the application because I don't think it's adequate for the amount of caravans proposed.

"There also appears to be no facility for waste."

Access would be from Castleway Lane via an existing tarmac driveway.

Samuel Brown, planning assistant at Philip Brown Associated – which is representing applicant Patrick Maloney – said in a letter to South Derbyshire District Council that the site was located within an area of land not protected by special planning designations.

He argued that the site could be blended in through landscaping, including the planting of trees to add privacy.

It also says the proposed development would be capable of having easier access to health services, the need for less travelling and possible less environmental damage caused by unauthorised encampment.

The applicant's agents said they could not comment to the Derby Telegraph before the appeal was heard next year.