Council to serve travellers enforcement notice for Princes Risborough Hemley Hill site (From Bucks Free Press)

Council to serve travellers enforcement notice for Princes Risborough Hemley Hill site

3:30pm Wednesday 2nd September 2009 in Search By Simon Farr

WYCOMBE District Council is set to issue enforcement notices against travellers on the unauthorised Hemley Hill campsite today – potentially bringing an end to the long running saga.

But as the Bucks Free Press revealed last month, the council have confirmed the nine gypsy families would have the right to appeal – which could take more than a year and a public inquiry to resolve.

The move comes after council planning officials were unable to make a ruling over a retrospective planning application made by the travellers for the Princes Risborough site because there was “no evidence the applicants own the land.”

Had councillors been able to make a decision, they would have been “minded to refuse” over fears for road safety and the negative impact the application would have on the surrounding area.

WDC spokesperson Becky Wotherspoon said: “The enforcement notice is due to be served today.

“There is a right of appeal against enforcement notices, any such appeal would be made to the Planning Inspectorate which then decides the process and time frame for that appeal.

“In cases such as this the appeal process would usually be by Public Inquiry, which may take up to 6/12 months to be held.”