Application for travellers caravan site in South Staffordshire countryside submitted

The former agricultural land on Wulfrun Way, off Broad Lane, Mossley, has already been turned into a residential caravan site including four pitches each containing two static caravans, one tourer caravan and four parking spaces.

Each pitch will also have a dayroom and sewage treatment plant.

A statement submitted to South Staffordshire Council by Trevor Mennell said: "The application is part retrospective, and the site has been occupied since March 2023. The families are Irish Travellers working in the building and groundwork industry within Staffordshire and local area. 

"The families have strong local connections in South Staffordshire, they maintain their Traveller Status by travelling to horse fairs, religious gatherings, work projects and visiting family members located on sites throughout England and Ireland."

He added: "The families recently purchased the application site to avoid a roadside existence and stopping on un-authorised sites and continually being moved on."

There is a shortage of traveller sites in the UK and South Staffordshire which the applicants believe strengthen their case.

The application added: "The application site is agricultural land in the countryside. The Governments Planning Policy for Traveller Sites confirms that some sites will be in rural areas in the countryside ‘away from’ existing settlements. 

"However, the PPTS does not put forward any distance restriction to help define the term ‘away from’ in relation to sites in open countryside. There is no requirement under Policy H of the PPTS for gypsy sites to be restricted as such, as in my client’s case services can be accessed by private car or taxi."

The applicants also pointed to the proximity to Bloxwich and the lack of traveller sites near the town. 

The statement added: "The policy seeks to direct most pitch provision to locations which are in reasonable proximity of sustainable settlements, such as Mossley and Bloxwich, with services and facilities to facilitate access to education, health, welfare and employment opportunities. The site can be considered to be located close to Bloxwich."

The applicants, the Burnside family,  have promised to create landscaping so the caravans will be hidden behind greenery. 

Mr Mennell's statement added: "The application site comprises a small rectangular field, enclosed along all boundaries by existing hedgerows and trees. It is located within the countryside. 

"The proposed caravan pitches would be largely screened in every direction. The proposed hedge and tree screening of the development would provide aural and visual privacy for the site residents and help assimilate the development into its rural location. 

"In my opinion, and, having regard to other planning permissions granted, in particular for more recent gypsy sites approved in the countryside, the proposed development would not have an unacceptable impact on the character or appearance of this locality."

There is a pubic consultation about the application which will run until December 2, for more information visit https://planning.sstaffs.gov.uk/ using the reference 24/00484/FUL.