Concerns over possible increased pitches at traveller site

SEMINGTON Parish Council is warning residents about a new application that has been made to Wiltshire Council for additional pitches on the Lansdowne/Littleton traveller site.

Mr Rooney, who owns the Lansdowne/Littleton gypsy and traveller site, has submitted a planning application to increase the number of pitches at the site from five to 12. Semington Parish Council strongly oppose the application saying, “This is a further concentration of pitches in Semington and adds to the existing over-development.”

If the application is successful, the village will have 20% of Wiltshire’s traveller pitches.

The parish council says, “This is not sustainable development, and is utterly inconsistent with Wiltshire Council’s core strategy as the total number of gypsies/travellers living locally will change the character of Semington village.

“The council is currently planning to take legal action against Mr Rooney for what it sees as his failure to meet existing planning conditions and enforcement orders.”

Semington Parish Council also claim that the drawings submitted by Mr Rooney’s agent are misleading. The council states, “The plan labelled ‘approved site’ does not show the current position as existing planning conditions are not accurately shown.

“The scales used to show the buildings at the site on the two drawings are different, which give the impression that there is more space on the site than actually exists.”

Residents have been expressing their objections in writing to the council. Dr Green wrote, “Regrettably, in the past, the council has overridden  any opinions expressed by the villagers of Semington even after public meetings with the villagers. We trust that the council will not do this for the present proposed application, trusting that the voters who gave their confidence in the councillors do the correct action and take the correct action in this case.”

Eric and Helen Clifford said, “Councillors visiting  Semington would quickly realise how the character of Semington is changing, and has already changed, by the two existing gypsy/traveller sites in the village. Further development of these sites must not be allowed if Wiltshire Council’s reputation is to be anything like restored.

“It is clear that assertive recommendations and comments are included in the decision of the council of the refusal of this application to the applicants of such sites, and that any future applications must abide to the planning regulations that all of us are bound by, and that we are all on a level playing field. Isn’t this the underlying essence when King John signed and sealed the Magna Carta some 800 years ago – fairness and justice for all?”

Wiltshire Council was  unable to make a statement regarding the application saying, “It wouldn’t be appropriate for us to comment on an open planning application.”