Family told to leave caravan site appeal to stay

A family of travellers who turned a field in West Sussex into a caravan site have launched an appeal after being told they must leave.

Benjamin Keet laid hardstanding and built waste tanks on land off Stall House Lane, near Pulborough, before installing caravans on 18 January.

Police were called to intervene after clashes between the travellers and local residents, but no further action was taken.

Horsham District Council said it already has "a number" of existing traveller and gypsy sites, and that it had rejected retrospective planning from Mr Keets because of potential harm to the area and a nearby listed building.

The land is tly owned by Mr Keet, Tony Castle and William Hughes, and there are currently two static caravans and two touring caravans on site.

After moving onto the land, they sought retrospective planning permission for four static caravans and four touring caravans.

But the council has rejected the application "due to concerns that the extent of the development was harmful to the rural character of the countryside location and to the setting of an adjacent listed building".

The authority then served an enforcement notice ordering the owners to remove the caravans and return the land to how it was before they moved in within six months.

All three landowners have appealed against the order, claiming the site is well screened and not visible from the road or other properties.

"You'd be chucking me and the kids on the side of the road in a caravan with a generator if I couldn't live here, same for my brother," said Mr Keet.

Elizabeth Pleasant, from the planning inspectorate, heard from residents opposed to the development and council planning officers as well as the travellers, their agent and their barrister.

Michael Rudd, the barrister for the owners, said they had intentionally developed the land without permission, but said the law allows for retrospective applications and appeals.

"The impact from this development on the landscape is limited and can be reduced with planning conditions," he claimed.

Mr Rudd also said there was "significant need" for places for travellers to live.

A review carried out for the council last year concluded that 80 pitches for travellers and gypsies should be provided over the next five years and 128 by 2040.

But Mr Castle said the council have "little interest" in finding sites for travellers and gypsies.

"We're trying to create homes for our community that the local authority is failing to do," he said.

Mr Hughes added: "It's down to us and it's hard to find a site that's not in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a flood zone or a protected area, and if we do find one, developers want it for housing and pay millions."

The planning inspector will decide whether to uphold the appeal in about four weeks.

The council accepted that there is a need for additional traveller sites, but said: "This application was refused due to concerns that the extent of the development was harmful to the rural character of the countryside location and to the setting an adjacent listed building, and therefore contrary to relevant planning policies."

"The council reserves its position on any further planning enforcement action until after the planning inspector's decision is received on both appeals."

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.