Gipsy family wins appeal
An enforcement notice issued against a gipsy family has been overturned by the planning inspectorate.
Newark and Sherwood District Council ordered that caravans, hard-standing, a fence, septic tank, amenity block, household equipment and a container box be removed from Seven Oaks, Allesford Lane, Edingley.
The notice said the land should also cease to be used as a caravan site or for storing vehicles.
The council refused a planning application for the caravans and other amenities on the site on the grounds that it was at risk of flooding.
The planning inspectorate over-turned the enforcement order and gave temporary three-year planning permission for the caravan and other amenities.
A report by the planning inspectorate said the land was owned by Mr Tony Webster and was being used by his son, Mr Ryan Webster, and daughter-in-law.
It said Mr Tony Webster and his family were ethnic gipsies.
The report said the main issue was if the development should be resisted because of the potential flood risk and danger it would present to the occupants of the caravans.
It said concerns were raised by Edingley Parish Council, residents, and third parties about the gipsy status of the appellant, the visual, environmental and traffic impacts, and the need for supply of gipsy sites.
The planning inspector ruled that it could not be clearly concluded that the site was a flood risk.
The report said there were no material visual, environmental or traffic impacts.
It said: “I can find no demonstrable harm, subject to the imposition of planning conditions, and a clear unmet need for gipsy sites in the district.
“Take all these factors into account, I find that it would be appropriate to grant a temporary planning permission.”
Conditions imposed include limiting the number of caravans to three, limiting the number of heavy vehicles allowed on site, and preventing raising ground levels and storage under the caravans so water flow is not impeded or replaced.
An application for costs against the district council was refused.