Potential new gypsy and traveller sites identified

Horsham District Council’s planning framework allocated pitches up until 2017, but its now has to put together a draft policy for the next 15 years.

Officers have identified 13 potential locations to meet the backlog and future need of gypsies, travellers, and travelling showpeople, including a mix of new sites, extensions to existing sites, unauthorised sites, or those with temporary planning permission.

These are included in a draft strategy which was approved for consultation by Horsham District Council’s Cabinet last Thursday (March 30).

Jonathan Chowen (Con, Cowfold, Shermanbury and West Grinstead), deputy leader and cabinet member for leisure and culture, explained that while it was controversial and admitted the process would be ‘difficult for everybody involved’, the current draft strategy was merely a ‘starting point’.

The council has to identify 93 new pitches, which includes a backlog of 47 and an identified need for another 46 over the next 15 years.

Sites include Fryern Park Farm, Fryern Road, Storrington; Smithers Rough, Guildford Road, Rudgwick; HDC Depot, Hurston Lane, Storrington; Greenacres, Hillside Lane, Small Dole, Upper Beeding; Greenfield Farm, Valewood Lane, Barns Green, West Grinstead; Kingfisher Farm, West Chiltington Lane, Itchingfield; Lane Top, Nutbourne, Pulborough; Northside Farm, Burnthouse Lane, Rusper; Oakdene, Blackgate Lane, Codmore Hill, Pulborough; Parsons Field, Pickhurst Lane, Pulborough; Rowfold Nurseries, Billingshurst; and Southview, The Haven, Slinfold.

Claire Vickers (Con, Southwater), cabinet member for planning and development, added: “This is not a policy document, these are suggested sites for consultation which I would like to hear comments back on.”

She added: “We are having appeals against us where sites are unauthorised and we are losing those appeals and will continue to do that until we have an agreed policy in place.”

Brian Donnelly (Con, Pulborough and Coldwaltham), cabinet member for finance and assets, said: “It’s the same old story where gypsies and travellers have illegally got on to bits of land and stick it out for a number of years and we are rewarding them for their diligence and stamina.”

He took particular exception to the inclusion of the Parsons Field site, while Jim Marshall (Con, Chantry) raised concerns about the Hurston Lane site’s proximity to the sewage works. Jim Sanson (Con, Chantry) also questioned the Storrington site’s deliverability since it was a ‘most appallingly smelly place’.

Philip Circus (Con, Chanctonbury), cabinet member for housing and public protection, added: “I think we have got to say to the communities that however difficult this decisions are going to have to be made and I’m sorry to say some people will not like these decisions.”

The six week period of consultation is due to start on Friday April 21.

Any resulting changes would be consulted on in the autumn before the strategy is submitted to an independent examiner for examination.

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