A gypsy/traveller site in Enborne has been approved – despite the applicants being accused of ‘taking the council for idiots’.
The applicants were also told they had ‘Trojan horsed’ the two caravan and mobile home plot by changing the use of the site to equestrian use.
They tarmaced the plot and put mobile homes in without planning permission in 2022 and submitted a retrospective application.
Despite the language, West Berkshire planners went with recommendations to approve the site, ultimately siding with the two traveller families, with councillors conceding that despite the methods used to get the caravans on site, that the plot was ‘clean, tidy and impeccable’.
Applicant agent Peter Brownjohn said without the site the two families would be living a road side existence with no available alternative sites.
The decision will mean continued access to health care and education for the children.
Charlie Doherty and his family moved on to the site, bringing mobile homes in on low loaders during the long bank holiday weekend of the Queen’s Jubilee, raising the ire of locals, many of whom turned up for the planning committee hearing yesterday (Wednesday).
Representatives were at pains to point out they were not objecting as it is an illegal travellers site – “we are objecting as the site should not be developed as it is in open countryside and near a flood zone and it’s sensitive ecology”.
They claimed rare birds such as stock doves, song thrush and fire crests could be at risk from the development.
“We are dismayed at the cynical way the applicant is manipulating the planning process,” Chris Garett of Enborne Parish Council told last night’s (Wednesday) western area planning committee.
“And we are disappointed that the council has recommended to approval.
“This was a Trojan horse of an application by getting equestrian use for the land. There have never been horses there.
“Are we going to get another eight caravans on the site overnight?
“Is this just the council trying to improve the number of pitches it has a shortfall of?
“Rewarding this kind of activity is to the detriment of all other people who go through the proper process.”
Residents also said the site “creates an easy win” for the council and helps the council in achieving their shortfall of gypsy/traveller site provision.
Howard Woollaston (Con, Lambourn) asked: “My concern relates to the need for WBC.
“We also had a similar situation in Lambourn were someone has just gone ahead and just tried to get consent and other wards have had the same issue.
“I want to get a grip on what the real need is in West Berkshire and how that can be addressed.
“I am very uneasy about this.
“It is in the middle of the countryside and we are being taken for idiots quite frankly.”
But there was also sympathy for the travellers in the chamber, two of whom were present, but did not speak.
“I am uneasy about how this particular community is dealt with,” said Tony Vickers (Lib Dem, Hungerford and Kintbury).
“For this community, acquiring the land is a major investment and uses up their entire savings.
“It seems that there are never enough sites to meet the demand so the community ends up doing what we have before us.”
Officers explained that there is a current need of three more pitches.
Longer there is a need of a further 17 pitches.
“It is very striking to me that it is always difficult for the travelling community to get permission anywhere,” added Nigel Foot (Lib Dem, Newbury Clay Hill).
“It seems to me it is perhaps this was the only way they thought they could get a site.”
