12:24pm Thursday 15th October 2009
By Katie Bond
Seven gypsy families have been given permission to set up home in a field in Wootton Bassett despite town council objections.
The ammended plans, which have allowed the Romany Gypsy families to move on to land at the former Glenville Nurseries site off Marlborough Road, were originally submitted in July and were refused on highway grounds.
Last night, at a meeting of the Northern Area Planning Committee, members backed the planning officers recommendation of approval but town councillors once again, spoke against the controversial plans.
Councillor Owen Gibbs said "If these plans are approved, you will be setting a precedent for further development in the near future.
"Even with the new entrance, this will have a detrimental impact on the road, especially with no public footpaths."
He also expressed concerns that two gypsy families had already moved on to the site and Wiltshire Council had failed to issue a stop notice.
But gypsy Maggie Smith hit back and said the families had no choice but to move on to the land after one of the couples had a baby just a matter of days ago.
She said: "This family was living on the side of the road, and they became so desperate that they had to move on to the site.
"This was out of sheer desperation but it shows the need for authorised sites in the county."
After the meeting ended gypsy familes hugged each other with joy at the news they had won their lengthy planning battle.
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