5:10pm Friday 2nd July 2010
A CONTROVERSIAL scheme for a permanent gypsy site in a Hampshire village has been thrown out.
Officials said the plans would have a detrimental effect on the countryside and there was no “demonstrable need” for the site.
This flew in the face of council officers who supported the application in West Wellow by two families for private gypsy plots to put living accommodation on.
Test Valley Borough Council had received about 30 letters objecting to the proposals by the Powell and Castle families on land near Steplake Cottage in Wellow Wood Road.
Nigel Anderdon, who represents Nursling and Rownhams, and is also on the Hampshire Joint Gypsy and Travel Panel said the right decision had been made.
He said: “At the moment there is no requirement to provide gypsy sites in Wellow and no decisions should be taken until it is known how many in total are needed in the Test Valley.
Policy breach “The Castles’ are already housed at HCC’s Bury Brickfields Park in the New Forest, so they do not require further housing consideration and Mr Powell, who owns some of the land, has confirmed he is not a gypsy, therefore this application does not concern gypsy accommodation.”
Both families have already moved on to the site without planning permission.
Mr Anderdon said: “This site is an unauthorised development in the countryside by a member of the settled community and if he chooses to let his land to a friend for residential caravans, this is a further breach of Test Valley Borough Council’s policies.
Valley Park member Alan Dowden said there was great public concern over the plans which it was right to take into consideration.
“Wellow and Test Valley have already taken their share of sites,” he said.
Both Wellow and Plaitford Parish Councils objected to the plans. Both authorities claimed there were already many gypsies in the area.
In a report to the planning control committee, borough officers said there “is a need for new gypsy and traveller sites” in Test Valley.
No decision has been taken yet on whether enforcement action will be taken to remove the two families.
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