Plea for Gypsy families to leave Denton site

South Norfolk Councillors have called on the Gypsy families to leave their illegal site at Denton as soon as possible.

The plea comes from Leader Vivienne Clifford-Jackson and Planning meeting Chairman Councillor John Halliday following the decision by the Council's South-West Area Planning Committee to refuse a planning application by the Gypsy families to remain on the site. This is the second planning application that the council has refused.

Councillor Clifford-Jackson said:

"It could not be clearer to everyone now. The families have applied for planning permission to stay twice, and twice they have been refused permission. They appealed against the first decision, and after a lengthy and exhaustive appeal hearing, the Planning Inspector refused their appeal.

"The Inspector said the site was too near residents' homes and was detrimental to their residential amenities. And she specifically ruled that the human rights of the Denton villagers in terms of continued detriment to their amenities outweighed the human rights of the Gypsies to stay.

"After the time for complying with the enforcement notice ran out on 11 November 2005, we served a Direct Action notice. This gives us the powers to take the steps required to comply with that enforcement notice. The Direct Action notice expires on 24 July 2006.

"It is clear the Denton site is not suitable. And just as in any other case of a breach of planning control, which has been challenged and taken through the appeal process, we are expected to act according to the law.

"If we don't, there would be no point in anyone getting planning permissions, or any appeals being considered. It would be everyone for themselves, and the result would be development chaos.

"We now ask the Gypsy families to please leave the site. It will not be available for them after 24 July 2006."

Councillor John Halliday said:

"I chaired the latest planning meeting, and once again like every Councillor there, I re-examined the planning issues. I have also examined the new guidance issued by the Government in February. And while that might have relaxed its concerns about the remoteness of sites, like Denton, it has underlined the importance of protecting the residential amenity of the settled community.

“We have once again examined the issues, and once again refused planning permission. We have tried to balance the needs of the settled community and the Gypsy and Traveller community in reaching our decision.

“We care, but the law is the law, and we must uphold it."

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