Gipsy site inquiry is to be re-opened

Two years ago Wychavon councillors threw out Mary Smith's application to change the use of land at Field Farm from a paddock to a site for two caravans and a utility block.

They heard while council officers accepted the mother-of-11 had gipsy status and was therefore entitled to special consideration when it came to applying for siting caravans, they felt this particular application was undesirable.

Aldington Residents' Association (ARA) was concerned the development would be visually intrusive, and planning officers recommended refusal because it would damage the sensitive rural gap between Badsey and Aldington.

An appeal against the decision was turned down by an inquiry in July last year on the grounds it was intrusive and would set a precedent. The inspector also suggested Mrs Smith's gipsy status had ceased because she had previously been permanently settled at Hipton Hill.

But representatives for Mrs Smith challenged the decision in the High Court, which ruled the appeal should be re-opened.

Now a three-day inquiry is due to start on Tuesday, November 5, at Pershore's Civic Centre.

Mrs Smith claims the inspector failed to determine the degree of intrusion and harm to the countryside that would be caused and argued her gipsy status should be accepted.

Patrick Sparrow, chairman of the ARA, said villagers continued to oppose the application and the association had sent in written representations to the inspector.

He said: Aldington is only a small community. This land is about 100 yards from the start of the village and adjacent to the road which runs from Badsey.

Mrs Smith, aged 46, bought the land from its previous owner Randy Ingrams in April 2000. The site was subject to an enforcement notice requiring its use for residential caravans to stop by February 2001.

Planning legislation dated from 1960 affords gipsy status to persons of nomadic habit of life whatever their race or origin.