Villagers' wait over camp plan goes on

A controversial bid to develop a travellers' camp in a Shropshire village is still to be determined almost 12 months after it was first submitted.

More than 60 objections were lodged with Shropshire Council after a family of travellers began work on developing the site opposite Henlle Park Golf Club in Gobowen last year without planning approval.

Officials issued a stop notice to halt the unauthorised work. A formal application to change the use of the land was submitted in June.

The family wants to turn the former rubbish tip into a camp for 12 caravans.

Council chiefs had planned to rule on the application by September, but the bid remains unresolved.

Council spokesman Simon Alton said planning officers were still waiting for information from the applicant.

Mr Alton said it was likely to be July at the earliest, or possibly even later, before the application went to the area planning committee for consideration.

Part of the delay has been caused by concerns about the materials that have been tipped on the site in the past when it was a rubbish dump and whether there would be any threat to the health of anyone living there in the future.

Shropshire councillor for Gobowen David Lloyd said it was crucial all the required information was available before councillors made a decision.

He said: "We can't progress this until we have all the relevant details.

"We are waiting for more information and more reports and hopefully once they come we can get this resolved as soon as possible.

"We can't short circuit this progress. We have to wait for the answers to some important questions."

Objectors claim businesses in the area would be jeopardised by the planned site. Other objectors say they are angry that the travellers began to develop the site without any planning approval.

As well as pitches for a dozen caravans, permission is also being sought for a washroom and kitchen.

The applicants have vowed to be good neighbours and say the new site would provide accommodation for travellers and meet a need Shropshire Council was currently unable to fulfil.