11:00am Monday 2nd February 2009
By Scott McPherson
Plans for a gypsy site in Braydon, near Wootton Bassett, have been given temporary planning permission despite strong opposition from neighbours and parish councillors.
The plan to change the use of the land at Purdys Farm, on Wood Lane, to form a two pitch gypsy caravan site has been given a two-year temporary lease.
At a North Wiltshire District Council Development Control Committee meeting councillors heard how the original plans had been deferred from a meeting in November after it had emerged that a family of the protected Great Crested Newts had been found living there.
The new plans, which have now been given the green light, had the addition of a wildlife pond for the creatures.
Speaking at the meeting chairman of Lydiard Millicent parish council Tom Pepperall said: “Now is the time to consider the human rights of local residents as well as gypsies.
“It should be one planning rule for all. Look at what happened in Minety, the gypsies were in situ for such a long time it was ruled that it would impact on their human rights to move them - this will be exactly the same.”
County and district councillor for the area Molly Groom said: “What is the point in the council having planning policies if they are going to be ignored.
“We have eleven pitches on the Braydon Road which is more than the contribution of one per cent of the population we are supposed to have.
“The council listened to Wootton Bassett, Calne and Chippenham and it is time they listened to Braydon.”
Speaking in October last year, Romany gypsy Frank Lee, who lives on the site, said he and his family had no choice but to stay there.
He said: “We have nowhere else to go, apart from by the side of the road.
“My son has asthma and with the winter coming we need somewhere to withstand the weather.”
Mr Lee lives on the site with his wife, two children, his brother-in-law and their family.
The planning permission is now valid until 2011.
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