Third day of Public Inquiry into Hemley Hill site, near Princes Risborough (From Bucks Free Press)

Third day of Public Inquiry into Hemley Hill site, near Princes Risborough

6:14pm Thursday 15th July 2010 in

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A COUNCIL worker said there is not "an unmet need" in the district for gypsy and traveller sites and there are alternative sites available.

At the third day of the public inquiry into the appeal against the enforcement notice to move nine gypsy families from a site at Hemley Hill in Upper Icknield Way, Saunderton the council brought forward its defence.

Gypsy and Traveller Service Officer Rachel Dillon said there have been two unauthorised encampments in Wycombe so far this year and there have not been “vast numbers” of caravans on land which are not tolerated.

She said in Wycombe there does not seem to be an unmet need although admitted there is in the surrounding area.

Ms Dillon said the move onto the Hemley Hill site seems to be "opportunistic" rather than "driven by necessity."

She said the lack of demand in the county meant that when sites became available at Wapseys Wood, travellers from North London moved into the pitches.

Ms Dillon said it does not help to keep referring to Wapseys Wood's reputation and said it is extremely “detrimental” to refer to any site as a violent site. She said currently the family living at the site "get on with eachother".

She said she believe pitches will become available “hopefully” in the next month at a site in Haddenham if a legal issue is resolved. She admitted it does have a fly infestation problem from the adjacent chicken farm but this was mainly during the summer months and gypsies had expressed an interest to move onto it aware of the situation.

Ms Dillon added that the council's allocation policy now tries to group families together, as they get on better, and checks if there is a history of anti-social behaviour in any previous local authority site.

She said clearly Wycombe District Council have been looking for further site allocations in the Baker Report which recommended site allocations and have since approved Dry Banks in Stokenchurch and Five Oaks at Studley Green.

Nicola Huijer, who is a landscape architect, said the Ridgeway and Icknield Way are ancient trails and the “development would be detrimental to the sense of openness.”

She said the land in the area has long been used as agricultural land and the development would create a built up area.

She said the “harm caused to the Green Belt, AONB and Ridgeway Path is considered to be unacceptable.”

The inquiry continues tomorrow with further evidence from the council and the Hemley Hill Action Group.