Central Beds submits plans to increase caravan pitches at Greenacres and The Stables

Opinion has been divided over plans to increase the number of permitted caravans at The Stables and Greenacres travellers site from 46 to 77.
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Central Bedfordshire Council has submitted its own application for continued use of the land at Slapton Road, Billington, for 77 caravans plus retention of two buildings for unrestricted residential use.

In March 2019, it was revealed that there were 146 caravans on the site – 100 more than the permitted amount – and the council expects the number of pitches to reduce with this application.

One man, who did not wish to be named, described the proposal as “pointless”.

Planning      (stock image)Planning      (stock image)
Planning (stock image)

He told the LBO: “There is no way CBC will be any better at monitoring who comes and goes after this.

“There’s nothing put forward that addresses the anti-social problems we see all of the time. It’s just a tidy way to make sure there are fewer caravan breaches.”

According to a planning statement by agent Ridge & Partners, the scheme is part of a two-year collaboration involving the council and residents of the site.

It stated: “The application site presently has planning permission for 46 caravans, with the site originally being allowed on appeal in 2003.

“However, over time this number has been significantly increased and at March 2019, there were 146 caravans on site. This is significantly more than the permission allows and creates further problems in relation to services and fire risks.

“It has also become clear over time, that the permissions for the sites are no longer fit for purpose and no longer reflects the needs of the residents currently on the site.

“The council has long been aware that there have been problems on the site... planning contravention notices were served in summer 2018 to try and understand who the current residents were.

“Since the serving of these notices, the Council have continued to visit the site on a monthly basis to record each pitches’ needs and requirements.

“It is this information, which forms the basis and justification for the number now being proposed on the site.”

Of 65 neighbours contacted, 33 objections have been submitted against the plans which CBC expect to be decided by August 28 this year.

CBC’s environmental services team criticised the lack of space provided for bins and suggested a hard surfaced area should be paved as close to the highway as possible for refuse collectors.

They added: “Whilst we will collect waste from this proposed site, we will not expect our crews to enter the site to collect any containers.”

Following the application’s submission, South West Beds MP Andrew Selous said: “I very much understand concerns about the increase in the number of pitches allowed under this planning application, even though it will reduce the number of pitches currently there.

“Central Bedfordshire already has very many more traveller pitches than other areas of the country. I believe that traveller planning law is very flawed. It does not serve settled residents or travellers well.

“I am pressing the Government to review this whole area of policy. It is not acceptable that a number of local people have left the area because they no longer feel safe and the current policy of separation leads to appalling outcomes for traveller children in education, health and employment.

“The whole policy is a mess which we should be ashamed of as it serves no one well.”

> What do you think? Email your views to [email protected].