Number of gipsy sites criticised

The number of gipsy pitches allowed in South Staffordshire in the last three years could double to 50 by the end of this year, council figures reveal today.

They show 24 pitches have been allowed on four sites since 2007.

These include nine at St James Park and eight at Oak Tree Caravan Site, both in Featherstone, six in Hospital Lane, Cheslyn Hay and one at Brinsford Bridge, where an application to expand has been lodged.

And with decisions by the Planning Inspectorate still due on appeals to extend five other traveller sites in Coven, Slade Heath, Penkridge, Calf Heath and Wombourne for a further 26 pitches, the total could rise to 50.

Current planning laws are highly restrictive of development on green belt.

However, travellers can make a case to be exempt from the rules if they can prove a need to set up home in the green belt and for extra pitches.

South Staffordshire Conservative MP Gavin Williamson is demanding the law be changed and for appeals to be frozen in the meantime.

The Tory MP presented a 2,181-strong petition to Parliament from residents across his constituency.

He said: "Loopholes are mercilessly being exploited by some within the traveller community.

"I want the law that applies to me to apply to everyone in the land."

Earlier, he told the Commons: "Traveller sites represent a great problem facing much of South Staffordshire."

Laws forcing quotas on councils to be build gipsy sites have been scrapped by the coalition Government.

South Staffordshire Council had been told to provide 45 new pitches by 2012 and 97 by 2026.