Agenda item

A report by the Case Officer is attached.

The following people spoke against the proposal:

Mr Richard Parsons, a local resident

Mr Douglas Brown, a local resident

Mr Francis Morland, a local resident

Cllr Steve Jones, representing Southwick Parish Council

The following person spoke in support of the proposal:

Mr Tony Phillips, Director, Thurdleigh Planning Consultancy Ltd.

The Committee received a presentation by the Case Officer which set out the

main issues in respect of the application. He introduced the report which

recommended that the planning application be approved, subject to conditions.  He explained that the key issues to consider were the principle of the proposed development in this locality and the current situation regarding progress towards the allocation of sites within Wiltshire in terms of the Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document.

The proposal was for the extension of an existing Gypsy and Traveller site, to provide for an additional two pitches to include the erection of two day rooms.  The application simultaneously sought retrospective approval for the erection of walls and a gate at the entrance to the site.

Members of the Committee then had the opportunity to ask technical questions after which the Committee received statements from members of the public as detailed above, expressing their views regarding the planning application.

Members then heard the views of Cllr Horace Prickett, the local Member, who objected to the proposal on account of the scale of the development, the visual impact upon the surrounding area, the relationship to adjoining properties, environmental and highway impact and parking. He recommended to Members that they carry out a site visit prior to making a decision on the application.  However, several members expressed the view that they were familiar with the site and did not require a formal site visit by the Committee. 

After a full discussion,

Resolved:

To refuse planning permission for the following reasons:-

(1)          The proposal, by expanding an existing single pitch site to include two additional pitches conflicts with national planning guidance expressed in paragraph 23 of Planning Policy for Gypsy and Traveller Sites that requires local planning authorities to strictly limit new traveller site development in open countryside that is away from existing settlements. 

(2)          The additional traffic generated by this proposal would increase vehicular movements through the junctions of Poplar Tree Lane/A361 Frome Road and Poplar Tree Lane/B3019 Bradford Road, to the detriment of road safety due to the sub-standard visibility in the South East direction. The proposal is therefore contrary to Policy CF12 (D) of the West Wiltshire District Plan 1st Alteration (2004); CP 47 (ii) of the emerging Wiltshire Core Strategy and Policy H of "Planning Policy for Traveller Sites" : Department for Communities and Local Government, March 2012.

(3)          The proposal, due to the large increase in the size, including the depth of the overall site, and the associated erection of two more day rooms, would have an adverse impact on the character and appearance of the landscape, with the site becoming a more intrusive feature in a predominantly agricultural landscape. This would conflict with policy CF12 (B) of the West Wiltshire District Plan 1st alteration (2004) and with policy CP47 (vi) of the emerging Wiltshire Core Strategy.