New blitz on illegal gipsy camps is hailed
New powers aimed at preventing travellers developing illegal gipsy camps and using council red tape to stall enforcement action could help save the South Staffordshire green belt, campaigners said today.
New powers aimed at preventing travellers developing illegal gipsy camps and using council red tape to stall enforcement action could help save the South Staffordshire green belt, campaigners said today.
One of the measures included in the Government's new Localism Bill is to ban retrospective planning permission applications which are also subject to enforcement proceedings.
Gipsies and travellers in South Staffordshire have exploited the planning system on several occasions by moving on to green belt land without consent, appealing against the enforcement action to remove them and later applying retrospectively for permission. When plans are refused by the council, as all such applications have been, the travellers appeal to the planning inspectorate and cite human rights to prompt further delays.
The council has been taken to 11 planning appeals since 2007 with some taking more than a year to open, ensuring the travellers remain on their chosen site throughout.
New rules mean travellers will be able to ask for retrospective permission or appeal enforcement action — but not both.
South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson, who has campaigned for changes in the law to protect green belt land from gipsy sites, believes the bill is a crucial first step. "There is a real anger that current legislation creates a deeply unfair planning system," he said. "There is one law for the settled community and a different law for travellers." Featherstone and
Shareshill councillor Bob Cope has pressed for action to protect councils after several applications in his own ward.
He said: "This will stop them stringing out the planning process to prevent us making a decision."
He added:"There are genuine cases and sometimes we are able to live in harmony. But there are also examples where they have spoiled our cohesion. People get angry with the local authority because they feel we're not acting, but it's the system."
Parish councillor Barry Bond, who chaired an action group fighting plans for a pitch at Poolhouse Nurseries, Wombourne, said: "It may come too late for our case as a decision is due. But it could be a big help in future cases." Under powers unveiled today, councils will be encouraged to develop "local enforcement plans" which set out their own policies and priorities.
The Government has already announced that planning rules which set strict requirements on the provision of land for traveller communities are to be revoked.
Both moves could benefit South Staffordshire Council, which approved a policy in September setting its own guidance on how many gipsy and traveller pitches are needed. The council's failure to provide such targets has been blamed for planning inspectors frequently siding with travellers in planning appeals.
Meanwhile an expanded national database of prosecutions for all planning offences will be introduced so "persistent offenders" can be identified.
