A GIPSY family has won the right to stay on land at Leigh Sinton, near Malvern, following a planning appeal.

The Smiths have lived in various parts of the Malvern Hills District, but settled on land at Dragons Cross about three years ago, putting their mobile home and two towing caravans on a small paddock, screened from the A4103 by a hedge.

Their four children were at local schools and they wanted permission to stay there permanently.

The land had previously been used for grazing and as a transit site for gipsies, but there was a storm of objections from local people at the suggestion of making it permanent.

Around 80 letters were received by Malvern Hills planning department, raising a variety of arguments against the plan, which was initially refused on road safety grounds in May 2002.

A revised application provided for a new safe access and was recommended for approval by council officers.

They were satisfied the Smiths were genuine Romany gipsies with a nomadic lifestyle, wanting to provide a stable home life for their children, without losing sight of their cultural background.

But a planning committee turned the application down in November 2003, after members said they were not convinced the Smiths were true gipsies in planning terms.

A public inquiry was held earlier this year and the appeal inspector has now ruled that the family can stay.

He said their use of the land complied with relevant planning policies and the effect on the surrounding area was modest.

He believed the application was strengthened by the educational needs of one of the children.

Planning permission is granted for no more than three caravans, subject to various conditions relating to landscaping, drainage and access.