Neighbourswant gypsy family to stay
AGYPSY family fighting to live in their car- avan home in a field have received the backing of their neigbours. Paul and Janette Gower want to stay on
the land they have owned for 26 years in Birling Road, Leybourne, and convert an outbuilding into a shower and toilet. But, while Leybourne Parish Council ob-
jected to the plan because the plot, known as Sunny Paddock, is in the green belt, res- idents say the family are “fully integrated
SNODLAND Tag Rugby Festival was bigger than ever with an Eng- land star joining in the action. Rachael Bur-
and valued members of the local commu- nity”. The case will be heard at a public inquiry
on Tuesday, July 19, after Tonbridge and Malling Council failed to make a decision within the required time limit. The Gowers were served with an enforce-
ment notice after they first parked a caravan on the site temporarily in 2000. They moved reluctantly into a house but say they could not settle “in bricks andmortar”, and
Tag Rugby Festival is runaway success Holmesdale sports students celebrate their success
ford, who has captained the na- tional women’s team several times, helped out at the event which was organ- ised by sports A- level students from Holmesdale Technology Col- lege.
The youngsters
took charge of the festival as part of their coursework, helped by sports leaders from Holmesdale and Snodland CE Primary school. They arranged the whole event, which was
were burgled and made to feel uncomfort- able.
They asked for planning permission to
move back in June 2010 but the borough council missed the deadline for reaching a decision. The couple and their two teenage daugh-
ters said they moved back to the site since lodging their appeal, as there was nowhere else available and they have family ties in the area.
Several letters of support
held at the pri- mary school, from sending out the invita- tion letters to officiating at the matches. They were guided
by
Laura Rookard of Kent Rugby Football Union, Kirstie Hem- ingway , Holmesdale’s sports co-ordi- nator and their PE teacher Claire Tyler. Rachael signed auto-
graphs at the event and officiated in the final. Pupils aged nine to 11 from 15 local school
took part in the festival which was won by Offham Primary School.
have been sent to Tonbridge and Malling Council. Steven Nicolls of London Road, West Malling, who lives next door to the site, said: “Mr Gower has made significant aesthetic and environmental improve- ments”. He said the family were val-
uedmembers of the community “and I see their continual resi- dence as beneficial to the whole neighbourhood”. Malcolm and Linda Standen,
of Birling Road, said Sunny Paddock was at the end of their drive and theirs would be one of the properties affected. Their letter said: “I believe
the Gowersmade every effort to do everything correctly with their application and I would like to see them supported.” The borough council has
raised concerns about possible flooding of the site but the En- vironment Agency did not ob- ject to the plan.
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