Public inquiry into Hemley Hill travellers' site adjourned until August (From Bucks Free Press)

Public inquiry into Hemley Hill travellers' site adjourned until August

6:10pm Friday 16th July 2010 in

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A RESIDENT who lives next to the Hemley Hill gypsy site said the development has made it feel as if “we are in a city.”

Suzanne Wier, from Shootacre Lane, said she moved to the area near Princes Risborough with her family because they wanted to live in a “rural location.”

Ms Weir gave evidence as part of the Hemley Hill Action Group on the fourth day of the public inquiry to decide whether gypsy families can stay on the site in Upper Icknield Way. (See links below) She said the high fencing around the development which is at the bottom of her property makes her feel “claustrophobic” and it is “intrusive” whereas before there used to be an “open feel.”

Ms Wier was asked about the “extended garden” at the end of the her property which Alan Masters, defending the gypsies, said she or any of the homeowners did not have planning permission for.

She said the land was bought from the landowner and is used for “agricultural” use as Wycombe District Council said it could be. She said if she had made any breach of the rules she would amend the area, where she keeps chickens, has a vegetable patch, a greenhouse and has planted trees.

Ms Wier said there were problems with noise from the site because of the way the land lies and noise is carried up to the house.

She also added her son, who has just finished his GCSEs had to go to the doctors to help him sleep.

Peter Bird, from the Hemley Hill Action Group, said he and his neighbours “love the area because of its beauty and we all feel very privileged to live their.”

He said he uses the footpaths in the area and has met a lot of people walking the Ridgeway who have asked him about the travellers' site.

Joseph Jones, who is a technical expert appointed by the United Nations and a member of the Gypsy Council, spoke as a third party.

He criticised the council for the way it had dealt with the enforcement notice and said initially it had been helpful but became less co-operative.

Mr Jones said the Princes Risborough shopowner, who sold the land to the gypsies, had been put under increasing pressure to oppose the gypsy site to keep customers coming to his shop.

He said some people say they should just keep travelling but “the problem with that is the travelling life style is no longer viable.”

Phillipa Jarvis, a freelance planning consultant, said the Dry Banks site in Stokenchurch has been allocated through the Baker Report which the council hope to become available as soon as possible.

She accepted there was no alternative site for families at the current time. When asked by Mr Masters where the travellers at Hemley Hill would go Mrs Jarvis said: “It is possible they may go back to doing what they did before, I am not saying this is desirable. A number of them were travelling and going to different areas where they were doubling up on other people's pitches.”

She said: “The council's position is that because it is not felt appropriate to grant them temporary planning permission. It is a matter for, I believe, considering what is an appropriate period for compliance.”

Mrs Jarvis added the council would help find a site for the gypsies in that time.

The inquiry has been adjourned until Monday August 16 at 9.30am at Wycombe District Council Offices.