Traveller site expansion rejected

A family of travellers that won a High Court campaign to keep their caravans on green belt land in South Staffordshire has failed in its bid to expand the site.

Patrick and Chavelle Dunne had applied for planning permission to add four new residential gipsy pitches to their site in Coven Heath.

They wanted to expand the Brinsford Bridge site, in Stafford Road, to allow members of extended family to live there too.

But, last night, members of South Staffordshire Council's regulatory committee turned down the application.

They added it was not an appropriate development on green belt land.

The new plan for four residential pitches and four amenity buiding, could see up to eight extra caravans move on to the site, more than doubling its size.

Councillor Mike Hampson, who represents Brewood and Coven, told the meeting: "This is in the green belt and it is in a local conservation area.

"We already have a large number of gipsy caravan sites in this area. We have met everything this applicant has asked for in the past and now he wants to have more.

"This will be an eyesore."

The refusal comes just months after the Dunne clan won its fight to have a permanent kitchen, bathroom and dayroom built on the site, in addition three existing caravans.

In 2008, Mr and Mrs Dunne won a six-year battle with South Staffordshire Council, which had turned down a planning application for them to keep their caravans on the land.

The council was forced to launch a High Court bid after then-secretary of state Hazel Blears said the family could stay following a public inquiry.

The High Court upheld the decision.