Shropshire Star

Call for traveller family to be offered plot in Gobowen

A traveller family who won a controversial battle to stay on land in a Shropshire village should be offered "first option" on a pitch on a local authority site as soon as its becomes available, councillors have heard.

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A planning inspector last month ruled Jerry and Michelle Berry should be allowed to live on land opposite Henlle Park Golf Club at Gobowen after the family appealed against Shropshire Council's decision to refuse them permission.

The family was given a three-year permission to stay on the land despite dozens of objections from villagers, local businesses and users of the golf club.

The appeal was the second time the family had appealed to use the land for a gipsy and traveller site.

It had initially planned to site four chalets and four caravans at the site but that was rejected by Shropshire Council and subsequently refused on appeal.

Disappointment over the subsequent successful appeal decision and Shropshire Council's failure to win the appeal was expressed by a member of the public during a public participation session at last night's meeting of Selattyn and Gobowen Parish Council.

Councillors heard claims the village had been let down by the unitary authority during the appeal process.

However Councillor David Lloyd, Shropshire Councillor for Gobowen, told last night's meeting the council's planning department had to state their case for the refusal on the basis of what was said at the previous planning appeal.

He said: "They did have to work on the pattern set by the previous inquiry.

"Their hands were somewhat tied."

Councillor Lloyd said many people had noticed the family had not been using the appeal site consistently for some months despite the appeal hearing being told they had no place to go.

He said: "Elements like that stick in people's craw."

The councillor said Shropshire Council was currently developing additional traveller pitches in the county.

He said: "As a local family they should be offered the first option. If they don't accept that, the whole issue should be reopened."

The family have lived on the site at Gobowen since 2010 without planning permission.

The couple appealed after Shropshire Council refused permission to change the use of the land, a former refuse tip, from a field into a gipsy and traveller caravan site including the siting of a chalet and a touring caravan.

Finding in their favour, planning inspector Richard McCoy said he had taken on board concerns from neighbouring businesses.

Mr McCoy added that a temporary permission of three years would "strike the appropriate balance between the competing considerations" in the appeal.

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