10:21am Tuesday 2nd March 2010
By Oliver Evans
LAND at Stokenchurch, Studley Green and Marsh have been backed by council bosses for legal gypsy sites.
Ruling Conservatives will be asked to agree the sites in a bid to stop illegal encampments such as one at Hemley Hill, near Princes Risborough.
The sites are: The Willows, Marsh Lane, Marsh, near Aylesbury; Dry Banks, Oxford Road, Stokenchurch and Five Oaks Farm, Studley Green.
It follows a public consultation by Wycombe District Council on eight sites including the High Wycombe, Tylers Green, Princes Risborough and Stokenchurch areas.
If approved it would mean the council could not oppose a planning application that met its criteria. The Government has demanded all councils allocate sites for gypsies and travellers.
It follows widespread concern about the site from Stokenchurch residents. A public meeting had to turn people away (see link, bottom of story).
The sites (click 'sat' for picture view):
View Gypsy sites in a larger map
Stokenchurch Parish Council chairman Councillor Alan Dunn said: “It gives people cause for concern.
“Are we going to end up with people who leave sites in a horrible mess? The site is entirely inappropriate – it has no facilities.”
Some 198 opposed the Stokenchurch site and 199 opposed it.
A council report (see link, bottom of story) said the Stokenchurch site would be ‘small’ but did not give caravan numbers. It previously said it would be one to five caravans.
It could be expanded to ‘accommodate more than one group/ family’ and said planting would be needed to ‘assimilate’ it into the protected Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Some 153 opposed the Marsh and 108 supported it.
The council report said the Marsh site will have two caravans.
Councillor George Lamb, chairman of Stone with Bishopstone and Hartwell Parish Council, said: “Two caravans might not be that upsetting for everybody.
“The council has a duty to provide homes for travellers so we haven’t any strong feelings at the moment.”
Five Oaks Farm, Studley Green is already used by gypsies and travellers and would be made legal under the plans.
The report says: “The family are understood to only be interested in additional pitches if for members of their family.”
The study into possible sites cost the cash-strapped council £17,000 and bosses have said they could buy land for gypsies and travellers. More sites are being sought, it says.
The sites ruled out are: • Park Mill Farm, Princes Risborough, one to 12 pitches.
• Former BOCM site, near Stoke Mandeville, one to 12 pitches.
• Abbey Barn North, High Wycombe, one to five pitches.
• Storage Site, Oxford Road, Stokenchurch, one to five pitches.
• Ashwells, Tylers Green, one to 12 pitches.
The issue will be put to WDC's cabinet on Monday at 7pm at the council's offices at Queen Victoria Road, High Wycombe. The public are welcome to attend.,
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