Anger at gipsy site ruling
Families who ran a campaign against using a plot of land in Wickwar as a gipsy site have lost their fight.
South Gloucestershire planners voted to allow five pitches for caravans on the field in Hall End Lane, Wickwar, despite hundreds of objections.
But people living in the village and surrounding area have said they won't give up the battle and have called a public meeting for tomorrow to see if they can legally challenge the decision taken by South Gloucestershire Council.
They say they are stunned that the council spent six years and thousands of pounds trying to keep the land caravan-free, only to then support the traveller site application at Homefield.
Chris Jones, chairman of the Hall End Action Group, said: "We just can't believe the council has done a u-turn and approved this land as a traveller site. It's a ridiculous situation and we have called a meeting to see what we can be done to challenge the decision.
"It would probably have to involve a barrister and we will also see how much money we can raise to take it further."
The council previously opposed the landowner's efforts to site his own caravan on the plot, which is in open countryside between Wickwar and Rangeworthy.
It succeeded in preventing the development but only after planning inquiries were held and High Court action taken.
But the land then appeared on a list of potential gipsy sites being considered by the council in order to meet Government demands to provide more pitches for traveller families. It has to have at least 53 new residential and 25 transit pitches for gipsies by 2011.
It compiled a list of possible sites that featured 23 locations, including Homefield.
One of the others is in Tanhouse Lane, north of Engine Common, which is not far from Homefield and is also being opposed by residents in Wickwar and Rangeworthy.
Mr Jones said tomorrow's meeting would be held in Rangeworthy Memorial Hall at 7pm, when the Tanhouse Lane site will also be debated.
Meanwhile South Gloucestershire Council is holding a drop-in event in Yate Leisure Centre on Monday from 4pm to 8pm. It has stressed locations of the potential sites drawn up are only suggestions at this stage and that any put forward for further consideration would be subject to the planning process and consultation.
3 Comments
by Admin, Bristol Evening Post
Saturday, June 27 2009, 6:14PM
“"Therapy" - George loves this word.”
by George, bristol
Saturday, June 27 2009, 12:40PM
“Anger !!! :) - the BEP love this word!”
by John, Bristol
Saturday, June 27 2009, 7:12AM
“In English Law under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 Gypsies are defined as "persons of nomadic habit of life, whatever their race or origin, but does not include members of an organised group of travelling showmen, or persons engaged in travelling circuses, travelling together as such."
Which begs the question why do the Council, and it follows, taxpayers have to foot the bill, and provide the land, for these sites?
A nomadic life is just that, nomadic. They choose that way of life for themselves and their families, their children have little choice in the matter, no-one forces them into it.
Having travelled in Ireland and seen the hundreds of caravans parked on the verges in the 'off season' and hearing of the opulent houses that many are reputed to have in the Irish Republic you have to wonder at the gullibility of the British authorities.
If I were to park a caravan on the grass verge outside my home or drive it into a neighbouring field, having physically removed the padlock and chain, the authorities would be down on me like a ton of bricks.
I doubt I'd even have time to get a brew on.
It's time to stop accommodating these people and make them realise that there are standards by which people should live by. If necessary, forcibly return them whence they came ......”