Cannock landowner threatens to move gipsies in if residents don't back homes plan
A developer from Cannock threatened to allow travellers to move onto fields if residents did not back his plan to build houses.
Landowner Wayne Rushton, aged 54, sent a letter to residents who had been opposed to his plans.
The letter said travellers would be invited onto the vacant plot unless they supported his housing scheme, and went on to offer £250 per house if the occupants wrote to planners in favour of his application.
Mr Rushton later said he regretted sending the letter and blamed his actions on having 'a drink'.
Residents were alarmed at receiving the note and said they were 'shocked' and 'disgusted' by his actions.
Mr Rushton, who has been dealing in property for 34 years, claimed the letter had been sent following a call from a councillor suggesting he should not seek planning permission for the site near a quiet cul-de-sac in Broughton Astley, near Leicester.
He said: "The £250 was more of an incentive for amenity - we wanted them to support us.
"I must admit, when I wrote the letter I was under the influence of a drink.
"I say the letter was probably a mistake and I did the second letter the next day saying we retract the £250.
"I did regret the first letter. It was really just off the cuff.
"In the past couple of days, I wrote to my architect asking him to revise the plan.
"I was going to call a meeting with residents and say, 'I have got no squabble with people, what do you really want to see on there? Would you mind seeing buildings on there and would you mind a children's play area?'
"I regretted the letter as soon as I sent it, I should have just bit my tongue on it.
"It is not like, at the end of the day, we are horrible people.
"I would rather the community have something they want and talk to the community because they know what they want."
