Family given six months to vacate unlawful caravan site near Shropshire village

A gypsy family have been given six months to vacate an unlawful caravan site after a planning inspector dismissed their appeal to remain.

Telford & Wrekin Council issued an enforcement notice on a former paddock near Longdon on Tern in March this year.

The notice claimed that the land was being used for residential purposes, and that a caravan and hardstanding had been sited on the land without planning permission.

The occupants of the site were given three months to cease using the land for residential purposes, remove the caravan and restore the land to its prior condition.

But the site’s owner, Luke McDonald, challenged the enforcement notice and lodged an appeal with the Government Planning Inspectorate.

Mr McDonald said there were two caravans on the site, one occupied by his family, including his wife and three small daughters, and the other by his father. Mr McDonald argued that his father was in poor health, and needed to live near his son.

But during the appeal hearing, Telford & Wrekin Council provided evidence gathered from Facebook that appeared to show one of the caravans available for rent at £750 a month. Mr McDonald claimed his account was “hacked” and had no involvement in the post.

Inspector Timothy King did determine that Telford & Wrekin did not have enough land to be used by gypsies and travellers - with a shortage of 17 pitches at the time of the appeal.

The shortage meant the inspector would have to take into account the occupier’s personal circumstances, but Inspector King found that little evidence had been provided about relevant circumstances.

The inspector also found that the use of the land had altered the “general feel” of the rural area. He concluded that granting planning permission could lead to further harm to the area's character through more intensive use of the site.

Inspector King upheld the enforcement notice but gave the family six months instead of three to vacate the land because of the approaching winter.

The full decision and supporting documents can be found on the Telford & Wrekin Council planning portal using reference number ENF/2025/0169

You can find out more about planning applications and planned roadworks where you live by visiting publicnoticeportal.uk/shropshire-star