‘Hunton site would have set a precedent’
MAIDSTONE Council has successfully de- fended its decision to refuse permission for a gypsy camp in Hunton. Last summer, the borough’s planning com-
mittee voted to block theproposal for two fam- ilies to establish a total of two mobile homes, two touring caravans and two utility blocks at plot five of The Chances in Lughorse Lane. Planning inspector Nick Freeman said that
the site caused harm, and felt that allowing the application would have set an unwanted
more permanent sites to solve the problems of sporadic settlement. Hesaid: “We are comparing ap-
ples and pears.We get lots of pri- vate applications and these will continue to come forward, to be judged on their planning merits. I do not believe that this message is getting across.” Rob Jarman, the council’s head
of planning, agreed that the pro- vision of more pitches would not stop individual applications com- ing forward but he said: “It will make it easier to enforce against unauthorised sites.” Principalplanning officer Sarah Anderton told members that there was continuing growth in the number of gypsypitches in Maid- stone borough. An assessment undertaken in
2005 revealed the need for 47 extra pitches – a pitch being the area of land and number of cara- vans needed to accommodate a
precedent. He reported: “I have serious concerns that granting planning permission for this plot, in the knowledge that the field of which it forms part has been split into a number of plots, would be likely to encourage other applica- tions for development, including potentially more gypsy pitches. “I consider that the local planning authority would find it difficult to resist additional gypsy pitches if this proposal were permitted
New sites will not solve gypsy demand Continued from page one
single household – between 2006 and 2010. In the event, perma- nent planning consent was granted for 52 mobile homes, ei- ther by the council or at appeal. However, going forward, targets needed to be set as part of the council’s core strategy. The council has already put out
an appeal to landowners with at least 1.2 acres of relatively-level land, with road access. They are also asking parish councils to come forward with ideas for land that could be suitable. Mr Jarman told the local devel- opment document task and finish scrutiny panel that it would be preferable for parish councils to come forwardwith theirownsug- gestions for sites over which they had some control. He said: “They need to be honest and upfront. We have to provide these sites.” Maidstone currently has two public travellers’ sites, at Stile- bridge Lane, Marden, and Water
and the outcome could be evenmore marked harm to the character and appearance of the countryside and the enjoyment of the public right of way which crosses the field.” The background of the two applicants, Billy
Lane, Ulcombe, which jointly provide 32 pitches. However, the panel was told pitches need notnecessarily be in the rural area: indeed, some trav- ellers had specifically requested to be housed in an urban envi- ronment. Cllr Harwood stressed that the
new sites need not necessarily be large – indeed, big sites could bring with them their own social problems, he said. “There are some very grim sites
in the region,” he said. “We are looking to provide people with a good quality of life.” He added that Maidstone his- torically had a large travelling community, with records of gyp- sies settling on Penenden Heath in the 17th century. He said offi- cers had been unfairly criticised for being a “soft touch” when therewerehistorical, cultural and family reasons for planning con- sent being given.
Smith and his brother Lenny, was also a factor in the refusal. They were both brought up in the borough of Bexley but wanted to leave as they claimed their site was overcrowded. They had no particular associations with Hunton or the immediate area. “Mr B Smith said that they wanted to find some green space for their children in the country- side where there was some ‘peace and quiet’,” added Mr Freeman. “The absence of a local con- nection also indicates that there is no specific reason to locate on the appeal site, only a general de- sire to find somewhere to live in the countryside. “I do not consider that the per-
sonal accommodation require- ments or the education and health needs of the appellant, his brother and their families pro- vide strong reasons for permitting the development in this loca- tion.”
More caravans? A GYPSY site in George Street, Hunton, could be expanded. Olive Lee has applied to site another three caravans at Little Clock House, which currently has permission for two caravans. The applicant says her three grandchildren would live in the caravans with their partners.
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