Newark and Sherwood District Council planning committee approve plans to allow change of use of site at Winthorpe Road to become six pitches for Traveller families

Families have been given the reassurance they need to establish a permanent home.

An application to change the use of land to become a residential Gypsy/Traveller caravan site was presented to Newark and Sherwood District Council’s planning committee this week.

The site, located at The Old Stable Yard on Winthorpe Road, Newark has been home to a group of six families living in temporary touring caravans for a number of years now.

The group submitted plans to make the site a permanent home, made up of six pitches, each providing one static, one touring caravan and a dayroom.

In 2020 the families won a High Court battle allowing them to continue living in the land, which they own.

The latest plans were recommended for refusal by planning officers due to the impact of noise from the nearby A1 and A46 on anyone living at the site.

A representative for the families said they were aware of the noise, but did not consider it to be an issue as they had already been living with the noise.

Councillors were also asked “you have already approved 142 new homes (Lowfield Lane) — why can’t approval be made for six families?”

Children living on site are also settled in schools around the area and said to be doing well — a factor which weighed positively with committee members.

The council is required to find an addition space for an 169 pitches across the district to provide for the Traveller community.

As the ward representative, Linda Dales was supportive, asking “if not here, where on earth are they going to go?”.

The area does sit within a flood zone, however, the area has not been recorded as flooding, even during the devastating floods of last winter, and all those living on site are signed up for the flood warning and evacuation scheme should any problems arise.

The plans also do not impact on the operation of a nearby dog kennels.

Despite the recommendation of refusal by council officers, members voted to approve the plans with the condition that the maximum number of pitches does not exceed six and that accommodation is made permanent.

Speaking after the meeting, committee chairman Andy Freeman, said: “From a planning perspective, there are some concerns to balance including noise and the risk of flooding, irrespective of the lack of flooding given storm Babet and Henk last year.

“The committee noted that families have been on the site for six years without significant issue.

“Subject to planning conditions including ensuring residents continue to be part of the Environment Agency flood warning systems, the committee decided unanimously to grant planning permission and allow residents to stay.

“I understand the applicants are pleased to get the permanency they wanted.”