Plans to create traveller site at disused farm on green belt land

A proposal has been submitted to Walsall Council planners, by an applicant listed as Mr R Lee, to build five pitches on land at Wood Farm Cottage in Willenhall Road.

Each pitch would have space for a static caravan, touring caravan and day room, which would be used for additional purposes such as storage.

Earlier this year, Walsall Council opened its own transit site in Pleck which can cater for up to six caravans.

But in the application for the Willenhall site, the developers said there was a desperate need for more facilities following dozens of unauthorised encampments during the last year.

There is a derelict building on the Wood Farm Cottage site while the scrub land previously on the land has been recently cleared.

It sits in the Green Belt and within an area designated as a site of importance for natural conservation.

Peter Brownjohn, of agents WS Planning and Architecture, said: “It is considered that there is an identified unmet need within the borough.

“The site is well situated, both in terms of its relationship to the nearest settlement and developed areas, as well as in terms of its accessibility and the availability of services.

“Most gypsy and traveller developments do not need to be as sustainably located as housing for the settled population.

“The nomadic lifestyle of gypsies and travellers obviously involves travelling for both economic and other purposes, towing their caravan.

“This involves the use of a private vehicle irrespective of location and so, whilst travelling, the same opportunities for using public transport simply do not apply.

“When away travelling, it will be necessary to access services and facilities wherever they are, rather than leaving and returning to the site on a daily basis for work.

“In terms of needing to access services and facilities including schools and medical establishments, the availability of these within a reasonable travelling distance is critical.

“In this case, the reasonable proximity to local schools, doctors and shops will certainly encourage shorter car journeys.

“In this case, the family would be able to access services and facilities irrespective of whether or not they are currently travelling or have ceased travelling for a temporary period due to children.”

He added: “There remains a substantial unmet need within the borough. The proposal as submitted represents a modest scale five pitch gypsy/traveller site, that would greatly assist in meeting the immediate needs of the applicant group, not to mention contributing to the supply of pitches within the borough.”