A caravan site in a small village just outside Swindon has been refused by Wiltshire Council after it was deemed an unsuitable location for 12 Gypsy families.
The pitches were suggested on land east of Restrop Road in Lydiard Green and each family was to have two caravans.
More than 500 letters were received by the council, the “overwhelming majority” of which were in opposition to the plans.
The application was first submitted in January 2022 and the applicant was given additional time to address some of the initial objections.
Additionally, Wiltshire Council’s landscape team and ecology team recommended a refusal, with Purton Parish Council and Lydiard Parish Council also upholding their objections.
Wiltshire Council’s planning officer noted: “Overall it is concluded that the proposed works represent overdevelopment within the countryside and despite the lack of a five-year supply of pitches the harms caused by the proposal outweigh the benefits of increased supply.
“The application is subject to objections and calls for refusal from the Highways department, the landscape officer and the environment agency.
“The applicants have been given multiple opportunities and a significant level of time to alter the application and overcome these objections but have failed to do so.”
In other planning news, an underground grid connection cable route has been approved for land along the B4040 and Pond Lane Minety.
It will form the connection between the nearby consented battery storage facility and the National Grid Minety Substation.
This battery storage facility off Pond Lane was approved at appeal in February.
The case officer report states: “During the course of the application, the applicant explained the reasons about the proposed route, and confirmed an alternative route, using the existing road of the National Grid substation to avoid disruption along the B4040, was considered.
“The applicant has confirmed that this alternative route was explored with National Grid.
“However it would require the temporary closure of the road to the substation and National Grid will not permit this due to safety reasons of blocking emergency vehicle access.
“As such, the most viable option available is to run the cable along the B4040 then through the fields to the south of the substation.
“The works would be temporary, not require the full closure of the road, and not predicted to take long to complete.”
Down near Westbury, the owners of Thoulstone Park have submitted a planning application requesting a dog exercise area in a field adjacent to the existing Thoulstone Park Eco-Leisure site.
According to this latest application, the area would have a secure 1.9m high fence and would only be booked out by one person per session.
The planning statement reads: “With access to safe, controlled outdoor spaces, dog owners can have peace of mind when training.
“Given the rural setting, sheep breeding seasons are usually a time where dog owners and the farming community have conflict.
“This secure space allows freedom for owners with dogs who could be seen as high risk and peace of mind to farmers and their livestock.
“Possible outcomes of the addition of such a facility would be a positive boost to the local economy, with the potential to create jobs and bring more visitors to the local area.
“Furthermore, this facility promotes healthier communities by giving people dedicated spaces to be outdoors and exercise, contributing to a better state of mental health and wellbeing.”
Wiltshire Council is expected to make a decision by the end of November.
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