Inquiry into Coven Heath traveller site begins

South Staffordshire District Council refused planning permission for the site on land at Shaw Hall Lane, Coven Heath, where travellers set up home with four caravans August 7 last year. Following the travellers' appeal against the refusal, a public inquiry is being held.

The travellers were served with a temporary stop notice from the the council after they moved into the site. The notice applies for 28 days, during which councils are able to assess the travellers' circumstances and determine whether to take further enforcement action.

However, despite the notice, the council claim that the travellers, represented at the inquiry by John Cunningham, continued to bring materials on site to construct outbuildings and widened the access.

Those acting on behalf of the travellers claim the land was already in use for the rearing of horses and included two outbuildings and an access route. They also claim that the land is the most suitable place within the area for gipsies and travellers to set up camp.

But, speaking at the inquiry, Freddie Humphreys, representing the council said: "The proposal represents an inappropriate development in the Green Belt.

"The proposal would cause demonstrable harm upon the openness and permanence of the Green Belt, detrimentally impacting upon its essential characteristic. The proposed pitches would introduce built form and bulky structures impacting upon the openness of the Green Belt."

The inquiry heard how the land, which is now owned by Mr Cunningham, already has one stable building built on it, with another disputed to have been built by the travellers after they arrived. It is also disputed as to whether tipper trucks containing materials to turn grass land into land suitable for parked cars was on the site on August 7.

Lucy MacDonald, principal planning enforcement officer for the council said: "I saw the trucks with my own eyes. Hard-standing material was being tipped onto previously undeveloped land as my director and I arrived on site at around 6.13pm on August 7."

Following the opening of the inquiry, local residents, council officials and representatives of Mr Cunningham attended a site visit on Wednesday to see how the land was being used. Mr Cunningham, who cannot read or write, disputes that any trucks were present on August 7 to tip hard material onto the grass and that they constructed a second building on the site.

The inquiry was adjourned and will continue for four days from September 20 this year.