West Berkshire Council's 'woeful failure' to provide traveller sites impacts Lambourn Woodlands

TRAVELLERS who won an appeal over an unauthorised site are now seeking to have planning conditions deemed to be fulfilled.

They won the right to stay at a site they created without permission after a planning inspector condemned West Berkshire Council's "persistent and woeful failure" to provide sufficient traveller pitches.

In January last year this newspaper reported how West Berkshire Council planners refused retrospective permission for the site on land west of Four Acres Yard and south of Ermin Street in Lambourn Woodlands, stating it had damaged an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

At the time, Lambourn Parish Council cited "material harm to the physical and visual impact on the AONB," and added: "The work that has already commenced has materially changed and damaged [its] character."

Nevertheless, trees and a hedge were ripped up to make an entrance and one resident told planners: "The applicants have already completed all the works to the site without any planning permission."

A planning officer's report acknowledged: "The site is rural in nature within the AONB, an area of nationally significant landscape importance.

"The works already undertaken and proposed appear at odds with the surrounding rural character and have an urbanising effect on the character and appearance of the area."

The eventual, restrospective application for permission was refused, and the applicants were required to restore the land.

However, they appealed to the planning inspectorate.

The inspector said: "Clearly the change of use has changed the appearance of the site through the introduction of caravans and hardstanding as well as domestic paraphernalia such as a large trampoline and paddling pool.

"The caravans are visible in the landscape from several viewpoints.

"The appellant knew that he did not have planning permission when he changed the use of the land and began living on it, but then sought to regularise it through the planning application.

"Nevertheless, the appellant carried out works beyond what was needed to create a habitable environment and for which he is not seeking planning permission, including a large timber day room built on a concrete pad close to a mature oak tree and hedgerow."

However, in allowing the appeal the inspector concluded: "I consider that there has been a persistent and woeful failure by the council to meet the needs of the gypsy and traveller community both historically and potentially going forward.

"The lack of a suitable alternative site for the appellant and his family attracts significant weight."

The applicant has now asked the council to deem conditions imposed in granting the appeal, relating to issues including tree planting, sewage and surface water, to have been fulfilled.

Planners have refused to do so.