A planning application for a traveller site on land at Clackhill Yard in Bradenstoke has been turned down by members of Wiltshire Council’s planning committee.

The debate was held at the strategic planning committee meeting on Wednesday, January 10 at the request of Councillor Alison Bucknell, after Lyneham and Bradenstoke Parish Council objected to the application and 39 further objections were received from members of the public.

The landowner was seeking permission to set up a mobile home, touring caravan and day room to create a “small family site.”

The case officer for the application recommended that the plan be approved to “help to meet the acknowledged shortfall in gypsy and traveller pitches across Wiltshire.”

However, concerns were raised during the meeting about issues such as the integration of the applicant into the local community, sustainability, pedestrian safety and land stability.

Cllr Bucknell, representing Lyneham and Bradenstoke, said: “The community has had the opportunity to experience what life would be like should this application be granted, and as you have heard, it's not looking good.”

The meeting was not attended by the applicant nor his agent, and the latter failed to provide a written submission.

Councillors were warned that a refusal would likely result in an appeal, but after a lengthy discussion, they decided to unanimously refuse the application.