By Local Democracy Reporter Peter Davison
A ruling that will see non-travellers evicted from an overcrowded camp in Semington has been welcomed by Wiltshire Council.
Patrick Ward has been told to evict residents who are not members of the traveller community from Greenacres Mobile Park in Semington, near West Wiltshire Crematorium.
He has also been told there are too many caravans on the traveller site and has been ordered to remove some of them.
The park has permission for 28 mobile caravans over 14 pitches, after planning permission was granted in 2008.
However, enforcement officers say they have counted 77 homes on the site and allege that some are being rented on the open market to people who aren’t classed as travellers for planning purposes.
Wiltshire Council served an enforcement notice order on Partrick Ward back in February last year, but he appealed against it.
The appeal has now been dismissed by a planning inspector.
Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Development Management and Housing, Cllr Adrian Foster, said, “We’re pleased that the independent Planning Inspector has decided to dismiss this appeal – it’s a great result that reflects the hard work of our Planning Enforcement team.
“The site owner now has to reduce the number of mobile homes on the site to align with the site’s planning permission. Non-travellers must leave the site within nine months and the number of traveller pitches on site must be reduced to 14, each with two caravans only, within 24 months.
“While we recognise the challenges faced by some residents, it is vital that these planning conditions are respected. We will continue to work with those affected to provide advice and support, and we will also ensure that the site owner complies with the enforcement notice.
“We are committed to tackling breaches of planning control to ensure fair and lawful development across the county.”
During a site visit in September, the planning inspector found that there were 22 caravans or mobile homes occupied by members of the appellant’s extended family – all but two had the surname Ward.
A total of 24 children lived on the site. Because of this, he extended the deadline by which the number of caravans had to be reduced from 18 months to 24 months.
Meanwhile, Patrick Ward has submitted a new planning application to Wiltshire Council seeking permission to double the number of permitted pitches on the land to 28, which would mean up to 56 caravans on the site if permission is granted.
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