Residents oppose new base for Travellers

PLANS for a permanent Traveller site near Nettlebed have been opposed by residents concerned it will “urbanise” the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

James Evans has applied to South Oxfordshire District Council, the planning authority, for retrospective permission to move one static and one touring caravan on to an acre of land next to Digberry Farm.

The application includes plans to install a septic tank, a 150kg metal storage box for e-bikes and car parking spaces.

A new site access and hardstanding were installed ahead of the application being submitted.

Mr Evans had an appeal on a previous attempt to convert the use of the land from agricultural to equestrian dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate in May for failing to conserve or enhance the national landscape.

He now wants to convert part of the land to a Traveller site which he said would serve the public interest in addressing a shortage of permanent and settled sites for Travellers in the UK.

Mr Evans said: “By providing a Gypsy and Traveller family a permanent base from which to travel, they will ultimately travel far less over the year and this will deliver a wider reduction in private car travel and deliver a bigger sustainability benefit overall.”

About 20 residents, the Chiltern Society and CPRE Oxfordshire have objected, saying the development would be harmful to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Jonathan Perry, of Park Corner, said: “The introduction of caravans, hardstanding and associated paraphernalia has an urbanising effect, fundamentally damaging the scenic beauty of the landscape.”

Andrew Wiggins, of Huntercombe End, said the new access installed into Digberry Lane would accentuate an already fraught thoroughfare.

He said: “Digberry Lane is known locally as ‘suicide alley’ due to the number of near-miss accidents between vehicles and also between vehicles and walkers, cyclists and horses. This new access accentuates this issue.”

The committee of South Oxfordshire CPRE said: “This application proposes a significant urbanising development over a wider area than that which was previously refused.”

The district council will make a final decision by October 16.