Protesters poised for victory over gipsy bid

Plans for a gipsy caravan site on vacant land in Wyre Forest look set to be thrown out after attracting more than 400 objections from local residents.

The owners of the site in Timber Lane, Stourport, said that it would help to tackle a shortage of pitches for travellers in the district. The district council needs to identify 43 more pitches for gipsies and travellers by 2022, along with a site for show families.

But planning chiefs say the park with 15 caravans would be harmful to green belt land and the flood risk is too great.

The land in Timber Lane was mainly used for horticulture in the past, although some caravans have been pitched there before.

The planning application will be considered by Wyre Forest District Council's planning committee on Tuesday. Members have been recommended to refusethe scheme.

Some 110 letters of objection and a 322-name petition have been sent to the council.

In a report to the committee, planning officer Paul Round said: "The proposed use of land for a gipsy site is considered to be inappropriate development in the green belt and causing loss of openness. In addition, due to the number of pitches and the position of the site, harm would be caused to the character of the open countryside.

"The site lies in an established area of flood risk, and it has not been demonstrated that this site is sequentially preferable, particularly in view of the lack of need for gipsy pitches at this moment in time."

Three other sites have been put forward as possible locations for gipsy sites by the council and residents have been able to air their views in recent weeks.

They are opposite The Gatehouse in Sandy Lane, Stourport; another area of Sandy Lane; and Broach Road, also in Stourport.