Gypsy plans go to appeal - Derbyshire

From the Burton Mail

REFUSED plans for a Gypsy site in South Derbyshire will be decided at an appeal.

Patrick Maloney had applied to change the use of land at The Castle Way, Willington, to a caravan site for four Gypsy families, each with two caravans.

It would have included one static mobile home, together with laying of hardstanding, and two amenity buildings, but was refused by South Derbyshire District Council.

When refusing permission, planners admitted the proposal ‘attracted significant weight in its favour due to a shortage of allocated Gypsy and traveller pitches for the next five years across the district’ but added this weight is tempered somewhat by the council’s over supply of pitches beyond the requirements of the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment 2008.

The council said the site has no amenities nearby, suffers from significantly substandard visibility from and on the approach to the access and makes note of significant level of traffic and subsequent noise levels from the A38.

Comments should now be made in writing to the planning inspectorate by visiting www.planningportal.gov.uk/pcs before the hearing.