Gypsy camp headed to South Staffs

Yet another gipsy camp will be created on green belt land in South Staffordshire after the council's refusal was overturned by the Government on appeal.

An appeal by travellers to create four caravan pitches in Slade Heath, off the A449 next to Coven, has been granted by the Planning Inspectorate after being thrown out by South Staffordshire Council.

Applicant Steven Davies has won the right to create four pitches at Poolhouse Barn containing up to 12 caravans as well as an ancillary day centre building for him and his family.

Mr Davies appealed to the Planning Inspectorate earlier this summer after South Staffordshire Council rejected his application on the grounds it would cause harm to the green belt.

But a document released by the Planning Inspectorate stated the impact would only be moderate and "would not cause harm to the character and appearance of the surrounding area."

Council chief executive Steve Winterflood said today: "We are very disappointed that the decision of elected representatives has been overturned by a planning inspector from Bristol.

"One of the reasons we refused the application was to protect the green belt but the inspector has concluded that the development would create significant harm to the green belt.

"Yet they have decided the requirements of the applicant outweighs this."

The site will also house Mr Davies' three grown-up children, including his son and two daughters.

More than 25 gipsy pitches have been granted permission on appeal to the planning inspectorate in South Staffordshire in the past three years.

Since December 2007, the district council spent approximately £29,300 on legal fees in fighting unlawful gipsy traveller occupations and gipsy traveller planning appeals.

The council has a legal requirement to provide 47 pitches by 2016.