Multiple objections have been made to plans to create a new traveller site on the outskirts of Warwick.

Philip Brown Associates Limited has put forward a scheme to Warwick District Council (WDC) to turn an agricultural field along Henley Road near the M40 into a new base for 12 families.

The application says the residents - who now own the site - do not currently have a lawful place to park their caravans, and the new site would allow them a permanent home.

But a number of objections have now been submitted by local residents, raising a number of issues - many not relating to planning issues.

Ms SE Thompson wrote: “The council needs to give serious consideration to the calibre of resident it wishes to welcome to the area, and do its duty to protect the best interests of the wider community and the green belt.”

While Corinne Mitchell added: “I strongly object to this application, by stealth, for change of use from agricultural use to a caravan site for 24 mobile caravans and a static.

"The site entrance is on a 50mph road, the number of vehicles coming on and off the site will be a traffic problem."

The application was submitted after the council was forced to step in to stop the site being developed without planning permission, over the bank holiday weekend.

advertisement

It says the development would bring a permanent home to the families who own the field.

"These families do not currently have lawful pitches and have come together to acquire the application site to provide themselves with a settled base," the plans state.

"The provision of a settled base would allow these families to access health and education services, and avoid the necessity for unauthorised camping."

Planning documents submitted alongside the scheme concede the proposal "constitutes inappropriate development in the green belt".

But it said repurposing the site would actually "prevent urban sprawl "by keeping land permanently open" - as the green belt is designed to do.

"In this case the proposed development would involve some loss of openness in spatial terms but visually, would not be prominently located or obtrusive in the landscape," the application explained. 

"The caravan site would be substantially screened from public view and, the visual impact on openness would be limited."

One note of support has been put forward by a local resident.

advertisement

Andrew Owen said: “I am all for supporting these family's set the site up properly and it will be great.”

Meanwhile Ramblers Warwickshire Area and Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service said they had no reason to object. The latter said the development needs adequate water supply for firefighting purposes.

Last month, a 'temporary stop notice' was served by officers and the police, preventing any more work happening on site for 56 days.

The council said it is actively considering further enforcement action whilst continuing to monitor and inspect the site to ensure that the Temporary Stop Notice is complied with.

Local resident Diane Smith has also objected and said the scheme should be stopped. She said: “Green belt breaking laws by accessing and putting roads in causing problems in neighbourhood seen all this before and troubles ongoing because of it.

"We would not be allowed to do this they always think they can get away with it retrospectively.”

See the full application here.