THE gipsy families who have camped near the Wyre Piddle bypass since 2001 have vowed to appeal against the latest refusal of planning permission for their site.

Members of Wychavon's development control committee voted overwhelmingly to reject plans for nine chalet-style mobile homes, 18 touring caravans, nine utility blocks and eight sheds.

A previous application for the site was refused by the council in November 2003. The families then appealed to the Secretary of State, John Prescott, who while backing the council left the door open for the families to reapply if they could sort out their sewerage problems.

Considering the resulting application last Thursday, councillor Malcolm Argyle said that the families had gone well beyond the scheme previously considered. "All they had to do was sort out the foul drainage - but all of a sudden we have nine chalets popping up out of the blue. I have tried to accept that they have got to have a need for these mobile homes but I cannot find it.

"We are asked to look at these gipsies and consider their nomadic way of life but that is based around caravans, not static homes. It seems to go against the grain of their cultural needs to have a permanent home."

Many councillors expressed sympathy for the families, who claim moving from the site would cause health problems and interrupt the education of their children.

Councillor John Wrenn said: "There is a need for sites and this is as good a site as we are likely to find anywhere. But this application is far too big and we should continue negotiating with the applicants."

Speaking for the families, gipsy planning consultant Maggie Bendall-Smith vowed to launch a fresh appeal against the decision. "The problem is that we have nowhere for these people to go. It has been pointed out to us that this council has no land available. If these people do have to leave we will have families living on the side of the road with children unable to go to school."