Travellers' site rejected by planners

The application, by developers the Milford Group, for six permanent pitches for travellers on land between Hearnfield Road and Coomes Way, was turned down because the site is located outside the built-up area boundary and is also within a strategic gap.

Last month, the Gazette reported that West Sussex County Council was effectively backing the site, raising no strategic objections as long as Arun officers and councillors were satisfied there was an "identified local need" for it.

On Tuesday, a spokesman for Arun said the council's officers did not consider that the need for the site was sufficient to override the countryside and strategic gap policies and said concerns were also raised about road access issues to the site and its proximity to a railway line.

Nearby residents reacted angrily when the plan was first lodged with Arun in September. A petition of more than 140 signatures was collected and scores of people wrote to the council objecting to the plan.

Eveline Abbott, whose bungalow in Hearnfield Road adjoins the one earmarked for demolition as part of the plans, said: "I'm delighted that it has been refused. Everybody in the road is over the moon but the land is so bleak now.

"All the trees were chopped down and they haven't even left an acoustic barrier so the railway is twice as loud as it was."

Another Hearnfield Road resident, Anthony Strudwick, said: "I'm absolutely overjoyed that we won't have travellers living in our road.

"I'm just concerned now about what they are going to do with the land because it looks a mess."

Steve Knott, spokesman for the Milford Group, said: "We always expected that the plan would be refused because of the local opposition towards it.

"The council would never have allowed it to go ahead because it would reflect badly on them at election time and I would have been very surprised if they had said yes.

"We will be lodging an appeal this week."