A PUBLIC inquiry will be held in a bid to end a bitter dispute between Barnsley Council and a family of travellers who have been unsuccessful in securing permanent planning permission in order to stay on a green belt site.

Jimboy Stables, on Mackey Lane, Brierley, is occupied by the Connors family but has been blighted by knock-backs and enforcement notices due to alleged unlawful work.

Their latest application to secure a change of use for the former allotment site to a permanent caravan site with a day room, boundary wall and gate was rejected by the council’s planning board in the spring.

However, the family’s lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate, which has the power to overturn the council’s rejection if it’s deemed unjust.

A linked case is also included, which consists of the family appealing an enforcement notice which was issued by the council in October last year relating to ‘inappropriate development on the green belt land’.

According to a document seen by the Chronicle, both parties’ evidence for the inquiry is due by July 24 and the hearing will take place on a yet-to-be-arranged date.

It said: “The planning history for this site is relevant this land is part of an allotment site with around 24 allotments arranged either side of an internal access track.

“The lease for the allotments apparently ran out in 2017.

“Following the demise of Brierley Town Council they were sold and purchased by the Connors family together with a field to the west.

“The family told others with allotments that they could continue to use their allotments but it would appear most have now fallen into disuse and have become neglected, overgrown and vandalised.

“Jim Connors owns the land and lives there with his wife Victoria and their two young children.

“The family were previously travelling and living on the road, however when they learnt that their son had a serious, life-threatening condition they realised that they needed to settle and seek specialist help.

“Medical teams advised the family that they needed specially-adapted accommodation and that the child’s needs would become more complex as he grew older and larger.

“They decided to move to the allotment site so that they would have space for a twin-unit mobile home and a specially-adapted day room.

“The Connors family have long associations with Brierley and have lived there for some 25 years.”

Matt O’Neill, executive director for growth and sustainability, added that the council will await the Planning Inspectorate’s decision.

“The site, built last year at Mackey Lane, lies within the green belt and was formerly used as allotments.

“We’ve served an enforcement notice, and an appeal has been lodged with the Planning Inspectorate.

“We will follow the appeal process and wait for the Planning Inspector’s decision which will inform our next steps.”