Gipsy site for one family gets go-ahead in Shropshire

More than 200 people had signed a petition opposing the proposals for a site in Barkers Green, near Wem. But the plans were approved at a meeting of Shropshire Council's north planning committee yesterday.

One mobile home, one touring caravan and a utility/dayroom building will be built on the site.

Opponents had claimed the development was unsuitable for a greenfield site in open countryside, but planning officers at Shirehall said there is a shortfall of gipsy sites across the county that needs to be met.

A further 20 objections had been made against the plans ahead of the meeting, including one from Wem Rural Parish Council.

David Collier, a Barkers Green resident, spoke at the meeting and said: "The shortfall Shropshire Council has to meet is relatively small.

"The council is already making steps to address this.

"This is a greenfield site which does not need to be developed."

Councillor Leonard Staines, on behalf of Wem Rural Parish Council, said: "There have been a large number of rejections from Aston and Barkers Green residents.

"The proposed entrance would be difficult to access by caravans.

"There is a busy timber site nearby which will create noise and is a safety risk to children. The drainage proposals are not adequate for the heavy clay land.

"The applicant is a family from Crewe and has no connection to the area.

"I have done some research and found there is no current shortage of gipsy plots and there are empty ones in the area.

"It is an inappropriate development which would alter the rural landscape."

Nathaniel Green, for Green Planning Studio Ltd, which is acting for the applicant, said there was a requirement for 19 gipsy sites to be built between 2014 and 2019.

He said: "The application would be an improvement on the current unkept land.

"The acoustic barrier would block the noise of the timber yard and the soft landscaping would benefit the area."

A ruling on the project had been expected at the committee's meeting last month, but Wem councillor Pauline Dee asked the meeting to defer making a decision so that members could visit the site.

The panel agreed and a site visit was carried out prior to yesterday's meeting.

Councillor Chris Mellings, Shropshire councillor for Wem, said he was concerned about the road safety around the site.

He said: "It is a narrow road that has no footpaths and is not in the best condition.

"There have been two previous applications on the site which have been refused before and I think this should as well as it is the wrong place for it."

But Councillor John Cadwallader said: "I think it is an appropriate use of the site."