Controversial travellers site given go-ahead despite protests

Planning permission has been granted to create a separate caravan site next to the long established 18-pitch council run site at Manor House Lane in Higher Heath, near Whitchurch.

The new site will have six pitches which would include one warden pitch and five private rented pitches for family members and families on the waiting list for pitches in the district. It will also include two utility blocks and a dog run.

When the plans were submitted to Shropshire Council, Prees Parish Council voted to oppose the application due to the lack of details about drainage, traffic management, over-sized pitches and a large warden's plot, possible commercial activity on the site, pressure on the infrastructure of the parish and the lack of need for the site.

Ian Kilby, development manager at Shropshire Council, said that full planning permission was granted subject to conditions being met including full details of both hard and soft landscape works, bin storage, drainage and lightening plans being submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority.

Last year Councillor Paul Wynn, who represents Prees on Shropshire Council, revealed the authority had plans to buy the site at Manor House Lane, only for the deal to fall through at short notice due to a new buyer coming forward.

But he was unable to provide details for what the authority had intended to do with the land.

Councillor Paul Gill, chairman of the parish council, said the current council-run site was well managed and said there was no trouble in the area.

He said: "The parish council's position was we decided to object to this application.

"We objected mainly because the existing council run site has been well run and the residents have been integrated into the community for some time now.

"We thought a private site next to it could lead to problems.

"We have said we would support an extension to the council run site. The council were going to buy the land but it seems they missed out.

"I was aware the planning application was going ahead and pleased will all the conditions imposed.

"We would have liked a condition tying the applicant down to the site but this was not decided.

"We accept Shropshire Council's decision but our stance was to object."