Refusal of gypsy family home pitch at Brambley Hedge, off Lyndhurst Road, Landford, taken to appeal

AN APPEAL has been lodged against refusal to allow a gypsy and traveller family pitch with static caravan and day room at Landford.

The change of use appeal by William Sherred is for a site at Brambley Hedge, off Lyndhurst Road, and includes parking for two vehicles and external lighting.

New Forest National Park Authority planners refused the application last June after objections by Landford Parish Council and with 41 letters from residents against the proposal.

NPA planners said insufficient information had been provided to ascertain the gypsy status of the applicant for planning purposes, and that the need for an additional single gypsy pitch caravan site within the national park had not been satisfactorily demonstrated.

The existing use was identified as unauthorised development.

Use of the land as a single pitch gypsy caravan site for a temporary period of five years was allowed on appeal in June 2017, after refusal in October 2016.

On the inclusion of parking for two vehicles, the parish council said the proposed use would generate more traffic on Latchmore Drove, which is used regularly by pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists.

It said if a gypsy site was needed, another on Lyndhurst Road had recently been given planning permission for two permanent sites, one of which had yet to be used, and an existing camp site on New Road also had “plenty of availability”.

But design consultant Keith Smith, on behalf of Mr Sherred, claimed that the planning decision was unsafe due to the local planning authority (LPA) “not taking into consideration” Mr Sherred’s disabilities or mental health, his medical history and human rights.

He also accused the planners of “providing false information” when referencing alternative sites that “did not exist to accommodate Mr Sherred”; allowing another pitch in the village which should only have been an extension; not referring to planning policy for travellers and gypsy sites; and not using the in-house gypsy/traveller liaison services to assess his status and needs.

Mr Smith also rejected the parish council’s claim of more intensive use as “exaggerated”, explaining: “Initially Mr Sherred intends occupying the site. His grandson and granddaughter will move onto the site when Mr Sherred’s condition deteriorates.”

Any comments about the appeal must be received by the Planning Inspectorate on or before 14th May.

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