Back garden gipsy site plea rejected

Bill Watton who lives in Long Lane, Newtown, had bid to put three caravans, two of which would by gipsy households, at the rear of his property. He said the caravans would be used for his elderly mother and because his son is due to marry next year.

But South Staffordshire District Council's Regulatory Committee voted unanimously in favour to refuse the application.

Mr Watton's plans had sparked fury with residents along Long Lane, near Essington, with 70 flocking to a public meeting to challenge the application last month. A petition containing 132 names was submitted to the council along with 63 letters of objection.

Residents argued that the plans were eating into green belt land and that there sufficient gipsy sites situated nearby.

Councillor David Clifft, who represents Essington ward, led the fight against the plans and called in the application to be heard before the committee. He said during the meeting: " We already have four traveller caravan sites, two are immediately on the A34 and there does seem to be a saturation of sites in Essington.

"The applicant's family has integrated with the settled community but what we have here is an application that is right in their back garden.

"Mrs Watton has said this application has caused problems with the neighbours and she has expressed her desire to sit around a table to heal this. There have been concerns about the living conditions of her mother and I have offered to speak to the council to improve these."

Speaking after the meeting, Bonnie Watton, wife of Bill, said: "I knew this would happen, I almost didn't show up because I've seen how these things have gone in the past. "But I wanted to show them what conditions my elderly mother is living in."

Plans for gipsy pitch and utility room at an existing site in Brewood Road, Coven, were also unanimously refused last night.