RESIDENTS fear planners giving the green light to a gypsy plot in their community could open the floodgates to more development.

Test Valley councillors backed a proposal for a single gypsy plot of one static caravan and one mobile caravan at land off Goddard Close, West Wellow. Now neighbours say they are worried the decision could lead to further such pitches on the same land.

One parish leader even suggested the council was favouring traveller sites in the south of the borough over the north after quitting its Romsey offices.

Goddard Close resident Dr John Gould said residents’ concern was that to solve a short term problem – a shortage of traveller sites – a permanent site was being put in the heart of Wellow.

He added: “We’re obviously disappointed. They’re taking a decision which will have long term consequences.”

Angela Ratcliffe, chairman of Wellow Parish Council, said it had agreed to the council’s current plans for gypsy and traveller sites on the understanding that land at Bunny Lane would be used to prevent sites like Goddard Close coming forward.

“The borough council has not, I repeat not, carried out its commitments as proposed and appears content that we in the south bear the brunt of these applications,” she said.

“It appears to my parish council that the borough council was happy to take the proceeds from the sale of Duttons Road but not prepared to put any money back into our area by carrying out development of any site such as Bunny Lane, thus alleviating situations such as this.”

Five plots are planned for Bunny Lane. The council has a shortfall of gypsy and traveller sites in the borough, with four pitches needed by the end of 2017.

The council’s report says although building in the countryside is not favoured, it can be allowed with gypsy caravans where the proposal meets a need.

With no officially allocated sites, the council cannot offer an alternative site for the family to move to. Councillors heard how rules refusing such “back-land development” do not apply to gypsy sites.

Cllr Peter Hurst said he was struggling to see grounds to turn the plans down. Planning policy lead Cllr Martin Hatley refuted any bias towards the south and said that more potential sites had come forward there.