A BITTER battle which has seen a traveller embroiled in a long-running dispute with Barnsley Council over his family’s right to remain on land has resulted in another planning application being rejected.
Paddy Connors, who lives on Barnsley Road, Brierley, sought retrospective planning consent in order to gain full permission to stay on the site.
However, documents revealed this week show Mr Connors’ bid was rejected by the council due to it being situated in the green belt and it having a ‘visually jarring’ appearance.
A planning statement on behalf of Mr Connors said: “The applicant seeks planning permission for one residential pitch to meet a recognised need, and a personal need, for such facilities in the area to accommodate a gypsy and traveller lifestyle.
“Following a site visit and consultation, the layout has been determined to best meet the applicant’s requirements.
“Regarding gypsy and traveller need, it is understood that the most up-to-date assessment of Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council’s position is that there is a current shortfall of 9.8 pitches.
“Barnsley cannot currently demonstrate a five-year supply of sites.
“An unmet need for additional gypsy and traveller pitches, the lack of supply, the absence of suitable, acceptable, affordable and available alternative pitches and the failure of the development plan to provide for the needs of the community are all a material consideration that should be given weight in favour of a grant of permission when determining applications.
“Any decision taken by the council should be made having considered the best interests of said children who live on the site.
“There is an explicit requirement to treat the needs of the children on the site as a primary consideration.”
The Connors family, who have been taken to court by the council over previous planning rows, were also refused permanent consent at a neighbouring site on Mackey Lane, Brierley, earlier this year.
A statement from head of planning Garry Hildersley added: “The proposed change of use of the land and stationing of caravans and associated outbuilding would constitute inappropriate development, harmful to the character and openness of the green belt.
“No compelling, special circumstances have been put forward to outweigh the harm and, as such, the proposal is contrary to local plan policies.
“The site is located outside of the urban area, away from the adjacent settlements and local facilities, which is separated from the built-up area of Brierley.
“The entrance walls and gates, which have already been built, are domestic in appearance and relatively imposing, given their size and materials and as such their appearance is visually jarring and out of context with this location and an impression may be given that the site and its occupants are deliberately isolated from the rest of the community.
“As such, the development of this site for residential purposes would be out of character with its immediate surroundings.”
A spokesperson for Friends, Families and Travellers, which works on behalf of communities across the UK, said a national shortage of safe stopping places has caused an increase in gypsies and travellers living on roadside camps.
They added ‘entire families are stranded with nowhere else to go’.
“National government must ensure councils have the appropriate funding in place so that families can access secure living conditions through the creation of more safe stopping places,” they said.
“Everyone deserves a safe place to rest.”
Barnsley Council was contacted for comment.
