PLANS to expand a traveller site in the southern parishes have been scuppered by Winchester council planners.

Mr J Keet applied to continue to site caravans at the site in North Boarhunt, near Wickham.

City councillors on the planning committee heard that the site at the Old Piggeries, Firgrove Lane, has expanded in recent years with 40 caravans, in excess of the planning permission.

Tiggy Ayoub, of Boarhunt Parish Council, told the planning committee: "There has been historical non-compliance with enforcement notices. There is now in excess of 40 mobile homes on the site despite planning permission only for four."

She said people who exercised their right of way over the land were subject to threatening behaviour by the owner and his family. "People ask to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals with the intimidating behaviour towards others who use the public right of way."

The application garnered 15 letters of support from 14 households with some saying it was a good site and there is s shortage of places for Gypsies and Travellers to live.

Robert Tutton, an agent for the applicant, said all the current residents are Gypsies or Travellers.

The council objected to the application, with the report stating: "No surface water drainage system shown, but likely to discharge direct to adjacent open land, which in the absence of any objections can be accepted. However the adjacent watercourse does cause flooding downstream and if a surface water system is connected to it directly it will unacceptable exacerbate the peak flows of flooding downstream."

The planning committee heard concerns about the poor quality of the site.

Cllr Frank Pearson said the planning system was being abused. "Every time an application is made and then withdrawn. It is time to draw a line under this. We cannot keep going on ad infinitum, giving temporary permissions on a site that is not laid out correctly and doesn't conform to hygiene standards as far as drainage is concerned. I hesitate to call this a game. I'm sorry it has just gone too far."

The committee unanimously rejected the application, citing it being out of character and a lack of information.