An application for a Traveller site has been approved despite it receiving more than 50 objections.

The plans concern land at Dreamlea, on Cricklade Road in Purton Stoke, a village just outside Swindon.

Councillors at the meeting heard that the applicant and his family have been living “on the road”, making school attendance for the children “challenging”.

The strategic planning committee meeting in Trowbridge County Hall.The strategic planning committee meeting in Trowbridge County Hall. (Image: Wiltshire Council)

The applicant, James Ridgley, said: “I really need a base for a number of reasons but one of the main reasons is so my children can get a better education than I have had.”

His father also spoke during the meeting, informing attendees that his son “wouldn’t create any issues” and would “prove himself as a man”.

The site is currently used for equestrian purposes and Mr Ridgley has now received permission to convert a recently constructed storage barn into a shared day room and set up two pitches for caravans.

More than 50 objections were submitted to the plans and an objection from Purton Parish Council was also read out during the meeting.

It stated: “Although Traveller sites are treated differently to normal planning applications, it is considered this application falls well short of the requirement for approval.

“It is recommended that these sites are not in greenfield locations such as this.

“There are no footpaths to access Purton Stoke, which has limited services, and it would be considered dangerous to walk on the road to approach the nearest bus stop to reach Cricklade or Purton, what bus service there is cannot be considered frequent.”

It added that another Traveller site in the area would be an “overkill”.

However, the committee acknowledged that the case officer report recommended the application be approved and that it was unlikely that a refusal would be upheld in the event of an appeal.

The report argued that the proposal would help to meet the shortfall in Gypsy and Traveller pitches across the county.

Wiltshire Council is seeking to address this shortfall through its new Gypsies and Travellers development plan, upon which a public consultation is being held from Tuesday, August 20 to Friday, October 4.

Chairman, Cllr Howard Greenman, concluded: “The motion has been carried, by six to two.

“Not a comfortable situation, but we’re at where we’re at with it, I’m afraid.”