Travellers' pitches in Butleigh will be allowed to stay

Travellers pitches in Butleigh will be allowed to remain in place following a decision by the district council.

Joe Taylor applied for retrospective planning permission to create two travellers' pitches on land north of Wood Lane in Butleigh, where two static caravans currently sit.

Members of Mendip District Council's planning board argued the site was already being misused and granting permission would lead to further caravans being placed there in the years ahead.

But the board voted at a virtual meeting on Wednesday evening (June 17) to grant permission because of the need to provide more travellers' sites across the district.

The site lies to the north of the existing Moor View caravan site, which used to be home to a landscaping and gardening business.

Tony Thomson, the applicant's agent, said the travellers' site needed to be seen as separate from the nearby holiday lets, despite sharing an access road.

He said: "A biography proving Mr Taylor's traveller status was provided with the application.

"Because it contains personal information, it is not for public viewing."

Councillor Steve Henderson alleged that the site was already being used for non-residential purposes – and claimed people trying to use the footpath near the site were being harassed.

He said: "There was a caveat about no commercial activities taking place on the land.

"Catering equipment is already being stored on the site – so that's a contravention of the conditions, and enforcement needs to get hold of that.

"That is a well-known public footpath, which is now not being used because of the intimidation that the locals feel from both the holiday camp and the application site. That footpath needs to be made available to whoever wants to use it."

Councillor Mike Pullen said further development could be allowed to creep on to the site if retrospective permission was granted this time around.

He said: "In two years' time, if there's another two caravans that go on there, they'll apply for retrospective planning again."

Other councillors, however, were more sympathetic to the travellers' cause.

Councillor Lindsay MacDougall said: "These people are festival workers – they run a catering stall called Posh Nosh.

"They are genuine travellers who are working around the festival circuit."

Councillor Nick Cottle said: "I understand why people don't want it, but I think we do need this affordable housing of a type in village locations.

"I will admit that it could be construed as a little out of place in a village like Butleigh – but some times you have to bite the bullet."

Councillor Tom Killen said it was better to allow small sites like this to ensure travellers integrated more into the local community.

He said: "Smaller sites across the district are better than larger sites – it will lead to better integration within the localities, and there is a duty to provide these sites for gypsies and travellers.

"I think we recognise the shortfall in that."

The planning board ultimately voted to approve the application by 11 votes to three.