CONCERNS GROW OVER INCREASING NUMBER OF PERMANENT GYPSY HOMES Council loses fight to oust caravans
A GOVERNMENT inspector has allowed a “large community” of gypsy caravans to re- main on two adjoining sites in Lenham Road, Headcorn. However, the consent is for two years only
and is personal to the appellants. The trav- ellers had appealed against Maidstone Council’s decision last May to refuse plan- ning permission to allow residency to the rear of The Meadows after 14 caravans had moved in two months previously. A High Court injunction also prohibited the intro- duction of any further vehicles on the land. The inspector, Clive Hughes, cited the
lack of alternative sites, the benefit of set- tling children in local schools and the poor health of some family members among his reasons for allowing the appeal. The temporary permission relates to a
total of 29 caravans - 15 on one site, 14 on the other, of which no more than five can be static caravans ormobile homes. Combined, they would accommodate 56 people, in- cluding 25 children under 16, the appeal was told. Mr Hughes acknowledged: “These pro-
posals would add a substantial number of homes and people to a relatively small and scattered community and I can understand that some of the nearby residents of long- standing are very concerned about such a large influx of new residents into a rela- tively small community.”
Planning refusal appeal dismissed
A GYPSY has failed in his attempt to overturn Maid- stone Borough Council’s re- fusal to allow him to live on a site in Staplehurst. In May last year, Shane
Lee was refused permission to allow the seasonal use of two touring caravans at Huntsman’s Stables, Maid- stone Road. His appeal against the decision has now been dismissed. Planning inspector Eliza-
beth Fieldhouse acknowl- edged a need for gypsy accommodation in the bor- ough. She added: “Neverthe- less, in view of the harm identified, the grant of even temporary permission would not be justified and would not overcome the fundamental planning and safety issues, particularly highway safety, from the proposal.”
A total of 29 gypsy caravans have been given permission to remain on land at The Meadows in Headcorn
In opting for temporary planning permis-
sion, Mr Hughes ruled that the harm caused to the area’s appearance and character was outweighed by other material considera- tions. He said the need for sites, the lack of
available sites and the lack of any policy re- lating directly to gypsies and travellers in Maidstone’s Local Plan all weighed in the appellants’ favour.
THE chairman of Linton Parish Council made an impassioned plea for Maidstone Council to sort out its gypsy policy. The council’s planning committee granted plan-
ning permission for applicantWilliam Lee to site two caravans on land next to the A229 and Stile- bridge Lane. While the particular application itself did not trouble Cllr Clive Baxter, he was concerned about the increasing number of sites being set up along Stilebridge Lane, as well as the large number of currently unauthorised travellers in Church Hill, in Boughton Monchelsea, a mile to the north. He told members: “This application is being considered in isolation, but with the other seven new sites along this road, as well as its proximity
ANOTHERapplication has been made for gypsies to live in Stilebridge Lane, Linton. Charlene Powell, partner Thomas Dunn (both 29) and their five children want to re- main at Stilebridge Stableyard. They currently occupy the land without consent. The planning application is for the permanent stationing of
Leader’s conversion plans
KCC leader Cllr Paul Carter has applied to convert another outbuilding into a dwelling at his home in Langley. Last November, Cllr Carter was given per- mission to convert an outbuilding in Lang- ley Park Farm off Sutton Road. He now wants to turn an outbuilding at nearby Lan- gley Park House into a family home. Cllr Carter’s home is 500m outside the
urban border of Maidstone, so any new housing is broadly contrary to the borough council’s policy of protecting the open countryside. The borough council will de- cide on the plan.
6 South Dismissing the appeals was likely to re-
sult in the current occupants being forced to leave and mean other potential occu- piers, currently living off-site due to the in- junction, not being able to occupy land they own there. Mr Hughes said: “Due to the lack of suit-
able alternative sites this may result in unauthorised camping.” Under a “revised balance” in favour of a
two-year limited consent, he gave “substan- tial weight to the unmet need” for sites as well as the personal circumstances - partic- ularly education and health - of some resi- dents. But he added: “Due to the harm to the countryside, permanent permission would not be appropriate.” Conditions imposed by Mr Hughes in- cluded banning commercial uses and park- ing of large vans at the two parcels of land, which are set back from the road at the end of an unmade track.
Helpless to stop travellers
THE borough councillor for Marden and Yalding says he does not know what to tell people who complain about Maidstone‘s lack of a gypsy policy. Cllr Rodd Nelson- Gracie said: “People keep asking me why we can’t do what Tonbridge does, but I have to just shrug my shoulders and say nothing.”
Plea for policy ongypsy sites to move forward
to the [KCC-managed] major travelling site in Stilebridge Lane [in Marden], there is a wider im- pact to consider. “For the sake of us and other rural parishes, please give dispersal of sites further attention in the way that other boroughs do in their policies.” The council is currently working on its gypsy policy as part of it overall development frame- work. Cllr Richard Lusty, chairman of the plan- ning committee, echoed the plea. He said: “The problem is that a small concentration of gypsies together just grows and grows. We urge our offi- cers to bring a speedy conclusion to the work to establish how many gypsy sites are going to be our target, so the enforcement team can act on cer- tain criteria.”
Latest proposal for Stilebridge Lane
three caravans, two of which are touring vehicles. Already pending is a proposal
for neighbouring Stilebridge Paddock for the introduction of four caravans for the families of Bill Lee and his brotherWes. Bill would live with wife
Wessy and four children, Wes with wife Charlene and two children.
LOCAL MP Hugh Robertson has urged Maidstone Council to take account of in- coming Government policy and refuse a three-plot gypsy development next to Boughton Monchelsea Primary School. Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Com- munities and Local Government, an- nounced last year that he wants to revoke planning circulars issued by the former Government that set out strict require- ments for town halls on the provision of land for gypsies. This could provide some long-awaited protection for the borough, which has so
Caravanrequest for Love Lane site
A PROPOSAL has been sub- mitted to station a caravan for gypsy accommodation on land atLove Lane, Head- corn. The application also in- cludes the erection of a utility room, hardstanding, cesspool and stationing of a touring caravan.
MP urges refusal for ‘unsuitable’ plans
far been almost defenceless to prevent traveller developments due to its lack of a policy. But so far nothing official has been drawn up. Over 700 signatories have protested at a retrospective application for six caravans on land at Church Hill. In a letter to Maid- stone Council chief executive Alison Broom, The MP claimed the current occu- pation is illegal. He added: “The area around Church Hill is unsuitable for resi- dential development. “This development flies in the face of the clear direction of Government policy.”
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