ABOUT 70 villagers crowded into Cleeve Prior Village Hall at the start of a gipsy site appeal.

It was called after Wychavon District Council turned down an application to change the use of about three acres of land off Evesham Road in the village, to a site for 18 caravans for nine families.

In an opening statement on Tuesday, Wychavon's head of planning, Gill Collin pointed out that Wychavon already had its fair share of gipsy sites which had increased over the years.

She said: "The official figures detail the last five six monthly counts of gipsy caravans and families and clearly demonstrate that of 156 pitches provided by local authorities in Worcestershire, over half, 82 pitches are in Wychavon."

She also added that nine pitches on land near Wyre Piddle were expected to get planning permission after satisfactory drainage was installed.

Counsel for the gypsies, Bridget Forster said: "The local planning authority has no evidence that it has made any need assessment or that the provision, in fact, meets the local need. It cannot be right that it can abdicate its responsibility by saying "We've done our bit, now someone else can have them - we don't want any more - there are too many already."

She added that any harm that might be identified is more than outweighed by the need for additional gypsy sites in Wychavon, the gipsies' need for lawful accommodation and the lack of an effective development plan policy to meet that need.

Barrister Tim Jones, on behalf of Cleeve Prior Parish Council, criticised the gipsy counsel's submission. He said that there was insufficient information about the gipsies to make any judgement as to their status or family circumstances.

Miss Forster answered that there was no need to produce the information because it was not an issue.

She said: "There are no exceptional personal circumstances and no outstanding need for children to be educated.

The appeal hearing was due to end today and it was likely to be several weeks before the inspector's decision was published.