Little Gaddesden politicians says there is an ‘orchestrated campaign’ to win a Traveller site - Bedfordshire

From Hemel Today

Plans to station extra caravans in an area of outstanding natural beauty have been called in by the Planning Inspectorate.

The Valley View Traveller site – between Hudnall Lane and Hemel Hempstead Road – already has permission for one caravan, used to house a gypsy family of five. The family has applied for three extra caravans – one static and two touring – to give them a little more space.

The application to Central Bedfordshire Council has had 55 letters of support, and just seven objections.

But Little Gaddesden Parish Council chairman Douglas Adams said: “I find it quite extraordinary that the words used in each letter are virtually identical.

“This would suggest an orchestrated campaign by those not living next to this proposed development.”

He said Central Bedfordshire Council has a hidden interest to approve the plans – to fill its quota for providing Traveller sites. He added that Valley View is right on the edge of the authority’s boundaries.

He said: “We are dealing with a professional Traveller lawyer who does this for his living. The whole issue of what you are doing in an area of outstanding natural beauty has to be questioned in the same way that you would do any major development.”

The Valley View gypsies deny their plans are ‘major’.

Charlton Webb, one of them, said: “We are the only Travellers in the country that own a caravan site that’s only allowed one caravan on it.”