Appeal lodged on Lawrences Lane traveller site development in Thatcham

An appeal has been lodged over a refused planning application for a travellers site in Thatcham.

A retrospective application for seven static caravans, seven day rooms, seven touring caravans and associated works on land at the end of Lawrences Lane was refused late last year.

The unauthorised development was first spotted on August 13, 2021, when a large number of workmen were seen taking machinery and equipment on to the former stables.

Nearby residents raised concerns about the unauthorised development, which was issued a stop order by West Berkshire Council once brought to its attention.

The applicants later applied for retrospective planning, which received more than 250 objections.

West Berkshire Council went to the High Court in September 2021 to get an injunction to stop the development and the hearing was adjourned to December 8, 2021.

Upon refusal, on December 8, West Berkshire Council was granted a continuation of an interim junction to stop the unauthorised development by High Court judge Margaret Obi.

The defendants were given two months to appeal the council’s decision to refuse their planning application to develop the site.

An appeal was lodged on February 6 on West Berkshire Council’s online planning portal which, according to the council’s website, will take the form of a public inquiry.

If the defendants had not lodged an appeal by February 8, they would have been required to leave the land by April 8.

The council’s executive member for planning, transport and countryside Richard Somner (Con, Tilehurst South and Holybrook) said: “If the defendants are not successful at appeal, it will also secure the termination of residential occupation of the land within two months of the closure of the appeal.”

The appeal can be viewed by searching 21/02112/FUL into West Berkshire Council’s online planning portal.