Appeal By Gypsy Travelers To Build A Permanent Site Next To Our Village

[eastern]

Some fields came up for sale on the outskirts of the village where my family live in the Darlington area. The fields have been used to keep horses and other animals in over the years but then were sold to "persons unknown". It later transpires that they had been sold to some members of the Gypsy community and they then applied for planning consent to construct a permanent residential caravan site with two amenity buildings and hard standing for a number of caravans. This has obviously been met with considerable out rage by the nearby village who got together to raise several thousand pounds and wrote in excess of 200 letters of complaint, the most the council had ever received against a planning application. Their application was unanimously rejected by the council much to the delight of the nearby residents. Now as you may gather they, the Gypsy's have appealed, every body has resigned themselves to the fact that the appeal will more than likely succeed. According to what the council have said they do not have the funds to fight this application and the Gypsy's have employed a top barrister to fight their case. I know this seems a lost cause but has anybody got any useful input on this situation. Thanks in advance.

[factor-fiction]

On what grounds are the residents objecting?

[ck1]

What is the issue with them having a legal residential site?

[VHG]

We have had a similar problem near where I live in Meriden, just east of Birmingham.

This has been going on for a couple of years, and many villagers in Meriden blocked the entrance to the Gypsy site to stop people coming in and out. I think it was there for a year.

A search on "Meriden gypsies" should find loads of hits.

Here is one

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/meriden-gypsies-launch-new-legal-3885849

[VHG]

Often the complaint is that this is a green field area and if a local person applied to build a house on the field it would be turned down.

Often Gypsies buy land secretly (as in this case) THEN put up some buildings and move in caravans (again secretly - as they did in Meriden) and only THEN apply for planning permission.

Of course then becomes a long protracted fight to get them out.

What annoys me the most is that often these people live outside the law, work only "cash in hand" and never pay a penny in tax, but then put up these sites and expect to go to the local school and use the local doctor, which they seem unwilling to pay for (leaving us mugs to pay for it).

They also feel they have the right to buy land anywhere and set up home on it, where everyone else has to obey they local planning laws.

Anyway they are supposed to be GYPSIES so surely that means they move around the country, they don't set up a permanent home.

Most of them are just criminal scroungers.

[friedgreentomato]

How do you buy land secretly?

Personally - if I bought land i would not be shouting it from the rooftops!!

[Sharingan]

Buy land secretly? they are as entitled to buy land as anyone else and the world won't end if they get permission for four caravans on a field they own.

[Mamyalynne]

Whilst I do have some sympathy, the question I would ask is - have the villagers lost any amenity by the sale of these fields?

Have any of them ever tried to buy a piece of land to build housing for the local community or similar and been turned down? It is a fact that things change and not always as we want them to.

[themorrigan]

The residents of Hurworth, the nearest village, are objecting on the grounds their village is very exclusive and commands premium prices for housing. The NIMBY's are complaining their properties will be devalued -which they most definitely will. Darlington if full of Travellers ( I was born in Darlington). They are over-running the place, use the by-pass for racing their horses, are arrogant and will pinch anything not bolted down. The Police do nothing. Glad I moved away. Useful input? You will have to get a few Councillors on your side, hopefully ones that live near the proposed site.

[friedgreentomato]

There are some selfish people out there - these gypsies have tried to obey the law and seek permission - a whole village gangs up on them - is it any wonder that they don't bother going the legal route and just build!!

[friedgreentomato]

//The residents of Hurworth, the nearest village, are objecting on the grounds their village is very exclusive and commands premium prices for housing//

Stuck up snobs deserve to be brought down a peg or two then!!

[themorrigan]

Sharingan '' and the world won't end if they get permission for four caravans on a field they own.''

How naive lol! Four Caravans, 25 horses ,50 tonnes of scrap metal, 12 trucks in various states of repair... and 60 bags of rubbish dumped in the hedge backs along with the Human excrement (cos gypos aare so clean they won't poo in their own caravans....bet you would just love living next to that....

[themorrigan]

friedgreentomato '' these gypsies have tried to obey the law and seek permission ''

And were refused -and are now playing the 'human rights' card. My neighbour has 250 acres but was refused the right to build a second farmhouse on his own land for his grown up son and wife -they have to live in a village 6 miles away and commute to the farm. Why should gypos have different rules because they are a minority??

[DJHawkes]

how do they afford a barrister of any calibre? Legal Aid is changing and isn't available for this sort of civil case.

[tamborine]

If the council has no legitimate caravan traveller site the 'gypsies' will have an advantage.

If they win it will set a precedent for dwellings on green fields/belt.

Let us know the result coz we can all buy plots to live on.

[DJHawkes]

Who is the person that has sold the land? Did they sell it with planning permission for any building at all or just as grazing land?

[naomi24]

Sorry, I don’t have any useful advice – but I have helped clear up the filthy, disgusting, putrid, mess left by travellers after they broke a gate and took possession of a piece of private land in our village. All I can say is I’m very pleased they didn’t become permanent residents! Apart from that, I don’t want their presence devaluing the property that we have worked hard to acquire. Why would I? And if that makes me a snob, so be it!

[Barmaid]

I'm not sure I understand, because if I look at Planning decisions for Hurworth - an application was granted conditionally on 3 July 2013 for three additional sites at Oakwood Farm. is this the same one?

You need to
a) look at the planning portal for DBC and look at the reasons for rejection - are they sustainable within the Local Development Framework (particularly the policy on accommodating travellers; the National Planning Policy Framework and the Government Planning Policy for Traveller Sites.
b) Look at the Local plan and whether the land falls within the building line
c) Look at other issues - conservation/outstanding natural beauty

And given that this is law and not CB, I think it would be better if we stuck to the question/answers rather than a hot debate on travellers and nimbyism.

[kylesmum]

themorrigan, your neighbour was likely refused permission as his land hadn't lain fallow for requisite time.

I'm of the opinion that you keep your friends close but your enemies even closer, had the village not kicked up such a storm then i'm sure some harmony would have existed.

Backed into a corner anyone will come out fighting even 'gypos'.In general crimes aren't committed in their vicinity, they may be allegedly 'thieves' and the 'dregs' of society but i'm sure they're not witless.

[Ric.ror]

I wonder by how much having gypsies near by would devalue your property?
I have to admit I would hate it if they moved near me - I can only speak from my own limited experience though