Court victory in bid to evict travellers (From Daily Echo)

Court victory in bid to evict travellers

7:39am Friday 8th February 2013 in News

WINCHESTER council chiefs have won a partial victory in the High Court in their battle to evict travellers from a showmen’s site near Micheldever.

Deputy Judge Philip Mott QC ruled Carousel Park off Basingstoke Road is not open to Gypsies or travellers.

Now, however, the matter will have to be considered for a second time by a Government planning inspector before a final ban is imposed.

The site has had planning consent since 2003 for up to 50 people to live there on nine family pitches – but only travelling showpeople.

In 2010 the city council issued an eviction notice, claiming the site was being unlawfully occupied by Gypsies and travellers.

However, a planning inspector ruled in 2011 that despite the council granting permission for “change of use of agricultural land to travelling showpeoples’ site”, it failed to include a condition preventing others living there.

Last week that decision was overturned at the High Court. The judge allowed the council’s appeal and said officers had done enough to impose the restriction.