A retrospective planning application for a traveller site south of Swindon has been refused by Wiltshire Council after it was judged “unacceptable in principle.”

Plans have been refused for a 3-pitch caravan site on land north of 34-39 in Clyffe Pypard.

The proposal was submitted retrospectively at the end of 2023 by Mr L Johnstone and, after a site visit, planning officers reported pitches for four touring caravans and parking for several vehicles established without planning permission.

The application argued that allowing the pitches would “deliver substantial benefits for this particular family, without causing any other demonstrable harm.”

However, this proved controversial with nearby residents, with six individuals making neighbour representations to express their concerns.

Mr Richard Ferguson commented: “The proposed site has already had a major negative impact on the area and current residents.

“It is too close to existing properties and too small to accommodate the number of people on the current application let alone even more families in the future.”

Clyffe Pypard Parish Council and Tockenham Parish Council also objected to the plans.

Wiltshire Council refused the application, noting: “The site is not in a sustainable location, being distant from any settlements and any services and facilities, including those essential for education and healthcare, with diminished benefit to the occupants given the lack of access in these regards.”

In other planning news, down in Tidworth, a “redundant” police station could be converted back into two homes.

The application seeks permission to change the use of the former police station on Pennings Road.

The police station was described as redundant.The police station was described as redundant. (Image: Google)
After the consolidation of police forces across the country, the site has not had a staffed walk-in service for several years and has only been used for administrative purposes.

Should the council approve the proposal, the building will be returned to its original residential use.

According to the applicant, Gainsborough Group Construction Ltd, it is “difficult to see how it could be utilised for any other purpose, whether that be community-based or commercial.”  

The plans state: “The proposal is for taking the former police station back to its original use as two dwellings, now that reorganisation of the police force has resulted in the station being considered redundant.”

It adds that the proposal is the “most common-sense option for the site.”

Also submitted this week, just to the west of Trowbridge, Lumiar School at Stowford Manor Farm is requesting permission to extend its facilities.

Stowford Manor Farmhouse is a Grade II listed house surrounded by working farm buildings, one of which could become a further classroom for the school.

Lumiar Stowford is an independent school that offers an alternative approach to education which has been described as one of the world’s most “innovative” by Stanford University, Unesco and Microsoft.

This Lumiar school near Trowbridge is the first Lumiar school in the UK and it has space for 45 children, with fees of £8,100 per year.

According to the application, the alterations made to the barn would be in keeping with the existing features on the surrounding buildings.

Finally, nearby, north of Westbury, a proposal for a dog-walking paddock has been approved despite objection from the local parish council.

Ms Fiona Culham had applied for permission to change the use of land at Folly Stables in Heywood from equestrian to a dog walking field with parking.

Her application noted that the local area “would benefit from a controlled high-quality dog walking area”, but Heywood Parish Council objected over concerns of increased traffic and noise.  

Nevertheless, Wiltshire Council found the application to be acceptable and gave her the green light to set up her dog-walking paddock.