Traveller family pitch near busy Shropshire A-road approved despite objections

Jack Doyle had applied for retrospective permission for his family to continue to use the site southeast of Warrant Road, Tern Hill, near Market Drayton, saying they had nowhere else to go.

Max Doyle had made a plea in favour of the change of use of the land, close to Stoke Heath Prison, at a meeting of Stoke Upon Tern Parish Council.

The parish council had objected because it went against the parish's neighbourhood plan.

The council told planners that there are already two allocated sites within the parish and future expansion would be considered only there.

They also had concerns about the quarter-of-a-hectare parcel of land being close to the junction of Warrant Road and the A41.

In a 21-page report Shropshire Council planners laid out the issues and acknowledged that they had to consider the Neighbourhood Plan in their decision.

But they concluded that it was "considered acceptable" and complies with policies and guidance.

Officials recorded that there is a need for traveller sites but an approved 16-pitch site at Craven Arms is not currently available to provide alternative accommodation for the family.

"The applicant currently resides within the locality, and the gypsy liaison officer has confirmed a need for additional traveller accommodation in the area," officials wrote.

An objector had claimed that the site is too close to the "busy and dangerous" junction. They added that the site "needs closing down".

But council planners concluded that the site access is "acceptable and will not give rise to any significant highway safety concerns”.

"Furthermore, the development would not adversely affect residential amenity."

Officials used their delegated powers to give the plan permission with conditions attached.