Gypsy relieved at home ruling

Linda Smith has lived at Beeches Brook since September 2007, but risked being ejected from the site by Rother District Council following a series of planning breaches.

The land is situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and enforcement action against Linda was due to be taken in April.

But following an appeal on February 2, the Government Planning Inspectorate last week granted permission for her to keep her mobile home on the site for another two-and-a-half years.

Linda feels relieved by the verdict.

She said: "It was like winning the lottery.

"It's peace of mind for us all."

Linda added: "I would like to thank everyone who supported me.

"There's going to be no problems down here.

"I'm sorry to anyone it has upset."

The two-and-a-half year extension was granted to allow Rother District Council time to find land for a new traveller's site.

Linda used to live on the traveller's site in Robertsbridge but was forced to move because of increased overcrowding.

There is currently a waiting list for pitches on the Robertsbridge site.

Linda said: "Hopefully in two-and-a-half-years the whole situation will have moved on a little by then, because it's only in the early stages of looking around sites in Rother.

"Not everyone wants a gypsy site on their doorstep, which is understandable, but Rother is looking at the next step.

"There is a shortage around East Sussex for sites for travellers and it is being tackled, but it's a slow process."

In his decision, the Planning Inspectorate said the development at Powdermill Lane was "visually intrusive" and "caused significant harm to the character and appearance of the surrounding area".

But he acknowledged that because of a lack of gypsy sites in Rother, if Linda was made to leave the site, she may have no other alternative than to move on to another unauthorised site.

He added that there was a "realistic expectation" that an alternative site would be found by the end of the two-and-a-half year extension.

He concluded by saying: "...the fact that temporary permission has been granted should not be regarded as setting a precedent for the determination of any future applications for full permission for use of the land as a caravan site."

A number of conditions have been put in place as part of the decision to allow Linda an extended stay on the site.

These include that no more than one caravan will be allowed on the site at any one time and no commercial activities may take place on the land.