A planning inspector has lambasted council chiefs for “a history of policy failure” by not providing enough sites for gypsies and travellers. The lashing came as the inspector overturned the authority’s decision to refuse retrospective permission for two traveller pitches, parking for three touring caravans and the relocation of a stable block in an agricultural field in the greenbelt on the edge of Iron Acton, near Yate.
South Gloucestershire Council had issued enforcement action to have the structures removed, having rejected the proposals because the site is at “high risk” of flooding. But government inspector Paul Dignan quashed that decision too on the grounds that the local authority has failed to allocate enough gypsy sites and because the two traveller families who live at the property, on land next to the Crossing Cottage estate, would be made homeless because there is nowhere else to go.
In his ruling, Mr Dignan said this would have breached their human rights and that he could “not have any confidence that the needs of the occupants are likely to be met in the foreseeable future” because of the authority’s longstanding shortfall. Council bosses called the decision “disappointing” but said they were committed to providing housing for all communities, including identifying suitable gypsy sites for its Local Plan, while opposition councillors criticised the authority for neglecting its duties.
