A PLAN to allow a gypsy and traveller site near Yeoford is set to be refused.

Planning officers had recommended that the scheme to change the use of land North of Shortacombe Farm in Yeoford to allow one pitch for the siting of one static caravan and two touring caravans for the use by gypsy and traveller families be given the go ahead.

But Wednesday’s Mid Devon District Council planning committee meeting (August 12) saw members voted to refuse the application on the grounds it was not a suitable site in a rural setting, it had an unacceptable landscape impact, there was no safe access to facilities, and due to drainage issues.

It took four votes though for an outcome to be reached after Cllr John Berry mistakenly cast his initial vote against refusal of the application, before then realising his error and voting to refuse the scheme.

The proposals had seen 48 letters of objection compared to just two letters of support, and objector Stephanie Crawford said that the site was not safe due to the high winds, the freezing temperatures, and the flood risk.

She added: “In the winter, the step narrow lanes are never gritted and freeze solid, and if snow settles, then the inhabitants will be trapped. And with the high winds, it is utter lunacy as a tree could fall and would obliterate any caravans and occupants.”

But Eileen Paterson, group manager, said that the weather is not a material consideration that the committee could consider, and that the applicant would have been aware of it when they purchased the site, and they had chosen that this was the site they wanted.

Applicant Anna Tyrer said: “The pitch is for me and my son only and there is no significant impact on traffic. It has taken me over 10 years to find and buy a suitable site. It is secluded and will provide my family for much needed security.”

Recommending approval, officers said: “The change of use of agricultural land to allow one pitch for the siting of one static caravan, two touring caravans and associated works for the use of gypsy and traveller family, is considered to be acceptable in this instance.

“It is not considered that the proposed development would result in significant harm to the character and appearance of the rural area subject to the imposition of planning conditions or detrimentally impact amenity to any neighbouring property. The proposed development is not likely to result in any significant adverse highway impacts.”

But Cllr Stuart Penny said that he didn’t think the application satisfied the council’s policies, all the parish councils had objected to the scheme, and it would not be a safe site.

Cllr Jim Cairney added: “This site has too many problems in the snow and the wind and the rain, and could be an unsafe place, and not the best choice of location has been arrived at. It would be terrible to vote for something that was an unsafe place.”

But Cllr Barry Warren said: “There is a lot I don’t like and I have concerns about, but they are grown up people who can make their own choices and they have chosen to live here. The snow affects the people who live in the area whether they are in a caravan or a house. It is their personal choice if they want to live there.

The initial vote to refuse the application ended in a 4-4 tie with one abstention, with committee chairman Cllr Polly Colthorpe using her casting vote to vote against the refusal.

She then put forward approval as per the official recommendation, but that was defeated by five votes to three, with one abstention.

A second vote to approve had the same outcome, before a second vote to refuse was passed by five votes to three with one abstention, after Cllr Berry admitted he voted the wrong way by mistake in the initial vote.

As the refusal is contrary to the officer recommendation, an implication report will need to come to the next planning committee meeting before the application is refused.