Expansion of travellers site gets backing
A controversial plan to double the size of a travellers site in Cheslyn Hay was passed during a heated meeting by council bosses.
One councillor stormed out of the chambers at South Staffordshire Council's Codsall HQ in protest of the application for Hospital Lane.
But the authority's regulatory committee gave the green light for four additional pitches to be built on the land, doubling its size and moving on to green belt, after the applicant requested more space for his family. Councillor Michael Boyle warned granting the application would lead to further expansions in the future.
"My concern is not with this family," he said. "It is with this site which is going to double in size. We are going to have a small village on the fringes of Cheslyn Hay."
Councillor Mac Harris said: "I don't see anything that has changed from the original application that was submitted in 2007 and that was rejected. I can't go back to the people who elected me and tell them they can't have two caravans on their drive but one family can have eight on their land."
The councillor's concern was questioned by planning officers who said if the council was to appeal a decision to grant the go-ahead it would have "no chance". The response angered Councillor Harris who shouted: "I have not been brought here to have my time wasted" before storming out.
