Traveller site rejected after council suspects 'fraudulent letters of support' in favour of site

A court-enforced injunction is currently in place, preventing more than the three initial touring caravans moved onto the site last July from occupying the plot, DerbyshireLive reports.

An 11th-hour eviction notice was issued for the site last August, and residents claimed during the meeting that the plot has been vacant since then.

Tansley Parish Council and 107 residents filed objections to the proposals.

Cited factors included the impact on the countryside, added congestion and alleged unsafe roads, the substantial distance from shops and services in an isolated rural location, a lack of drainage and waste facilities, and the risk of flooding and pollution.

A total of 52 support letters have been submitted to the authority; however, council officials say they have "serious concerns" that many are "not genuine".

One Foxholes Lane resident claimed the application was based on "mostly false and misleading information" and "fictitious surveys and tests", along with "fraudulent letters of support".

Derbyshire Dales District Council rejected the site

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Councillor Peter Slack said: "There is so much wrong with this application that it is not fit to be cleared. Fresh water, sewerage, land drainage, access to the site- there are so many problems."

Meanwhile, Councillor Gareth Gee added: "I would just like to hope that in the future, when a developer comes to want to build 200 houses in Tansley, they have the same stringent objections to things surrounding the same principles, and we come to the same conclusion."

Council planners had written: "It is acknowledged that the refusal of planning permission, and subsequent enforcement action would interfere with the occupants' rights under Article 8 and would have implications for a family.

"However, the interference would be in accordance with the law as it would pursue legitimate aims through the operation of planning law, including the protection of the character and appearance of the countryside, the promotion of sustainable patterns of development and movement, and the protection of the environment."

The application wrote: "The council is asked to respectfully consider that there are evidenced circumstances of a local Gypsy and Traveller families which can be read against the council's fundamental failure to provide sufficient allocations for Gypsy/Travellers in this district.

"What must be highlighted here is that due to the nature of this type of application, often being contentious and inflammatory, there is no 100 per cent perfect site for a Gypsy/ Traveller site."

"On this basis, where can a council successfully fulfil their duty to provide a site and allow a settled base for a Gypsy/Traveller who has the right to settle to be close to family, attain medical treatment and school their children?"

Chair of Tansley Parish Council, Councillor Vicki Raynes, claimed the site was too far from facilities such as doctors and schools, adding that nearby routes were not walkable.

Edward Vaudin, a council planning officer, said the site was a 10-minute walk on unlit, uneven paths to the nearest bus stop and nearly a mile to Tansley, with no footways.

Councillor David Hughes said it was clear Tansley residents had a strong "commitment" to planning in their area and posed "remarkably useful interventions".

He said: "We do not have sufficient information to come to a conclusion about foul water drainage

"It can be seen that the planning issues are substantial and outweigh human rights."