Aldingbourne field to become a gypsy site despite protests

Councillors agreed to allow the change of use for the plot on Northfields Lane in spite of pleas from one of their members and two neighbours.

The decision '“ which sanctions the existing use of The Paddocks '“ has enabled Arun District Council to exceed its requirement for providing pitches for gypsies and travellers for at least a year when added to another location in Findon.

Members of the council's development control committee were urged by their vice-chairman not to use that as a reason to approve the application by Mr D and Mrs K Searle as advised by their planning officers.

Jean Goad said: "This is a recommendation borne out of expediency. It has been brought about because, as a district council, we have consistently failed over several years to grasp the nettle to provide any permanent sites for the gypsy and traveller community.

"Granting this application at this time could be seen as an easy option to reach the target.

"It's important to members of the public you do not take the easy option but are considering the planning application on its planning merits.

"Having considered all the information available to me, in my opinion this site is not a suitable one for permanent permission."

She asked the committee to consider continuing a temporary permission for the site until a better permanent location was found elsewhere in the district.

Resident Jenny Lowe said she was speaking on behalf of many residents in the Level Mare Lane area.

"Gypsies and travellers have human rights but residents have rights as well. The council has discriminated against local residents as their views have been ignored.

"Arun has said The Paddocks is not suitable as a gypsy and traveller site. Nothing has changed to make it more suitable," she said.

She said unmade Northfield Lane had become unusable for pedestrians because of the amount of traffic generated by the residential use.

Michael Cox, speaking for Mr and Mrs Searle, said a report commissioned by the council last year said The Paddocks could be used to house gypsy and traveller families.

Granting planning permission for The Paddocks would put Arun in a strong position to reject similar applications elsewhere, he said.

Cllr Ricky Bower said: "As far as this site is concerned, we are caught between a rock and a hard place."

New structures on the site should be at least 3m from the boundary with Mount Pleasant Cottage.