Travellers submit planning application for Risborough site (From Bucks Free Press)

Travellers submit planning application for Risborough site

5:00pm Wednesday 6th May 2009

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TRAVELLERS have submitted a planning application to Wycombe District Council for the disputed site in Hemley Hill.

They are looking to gain official approval from the council to change the use of the land to include the “stationing of caravans for nine gypsy pitches” and “utility and day room buildings.”

The council has confirmed the retrospective application, which was validated on Tuesday, will be handled and dealt with “just like any other planning application”.

Cllr Bill Bendyshe-Brown has wasted no time in submitting his objection to the application to case officer Charles Power and believes it is “just a matter of time” before Mr Power “is swamped with objections”.

He added: “They shouldn't be there in the first place, in that the site is Green Belt and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and they didn't have planning permission before they moved on there.

“Retrospective planning applications are submitted all the time by people who do not know the correct procedure but in this instance, it is just blatant abuse of the planning laws.”

A Princes Risborough resident, who didn't want to be named, said the application was a “sad state of affairs” and thinks the proposed site looked “beautiful - without caravans.”.

She added disgruntled residents plan to attend the Bledlow Ridge Parish Council meeting in the Village Hall tomorrow night after Princes Risborough Town Council announced last week it was “not in their jurisdiction to act”.

But a traveller, who did not want to give his name, said the travellers “just wanted to be left in peace and live their lives” and have been of “no bother to residents” since they arrived.

The application comes just days after WDC obtained a High Court injunction over the site, in Upper Icknield Way and an adjoining plot of land, which the council feared would be sold and used as a traveller site “in the near future”.

The council had previously issued a temporary stop notice on the Green Belt site after nine families moved onto the site and carried out “unauthorised construction” during the Easter holidays, causing outrage among residents and council officials.

A council statement said: “The injunction came into effect from Thursday, April 30 and seeks to retain the status quo and prevent all future development on the site.

“The letter which will be served on the parties today makes clear that the order prohibits all further development including laying of hardcore and swapping of caravans or replacement of the caravans with mobile homes.

“Any further development will amount to a breach of the order could be in contempt of court and subject to criminal proceedings.”

The order prohibits the land from being used for housing, storage of vehicles and development, while the second “pre-emptive” injunction is for nearby land at Shootacre Lane, Saunderton.

The statement said: “The reason for this pre-emptive injunction is that the council had reason to believe that there was the possibility that the land could be sold and used for this purpose in the near future and wished to protect the land from development.

“The council will continue to monitor the sites and assess what further action is appropriate.”

To view the proposed site, visit the plans here.

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