News & Sport for Harwich & Manningtree, Leisure and local info From Harwich & Manningtree Standard

Essex: Firm looking for privately-owned travellers' sites

From the archive, first published Monday 7th Jun 2004.

Potential sites for privately-owned travellers' plotlands are being targeted across the county by a firm of chartered town planners.

Smart Planning, based at Ongar, has submitted planning applications at Back Lane, East Hanningfield and Great Tey, near Coggeshall, and are eyeing other sites in rural Essex.

Chartered surveyor Russell Forde, of Smart Planning, claims the 'legitimate needs' of the travelling community are not being met in local plans and says there is an urgent need for official sites.

Mr Forde, who was for five years development control manager for Maldon District Council, commented: "Chelmsford Borough Council has failed to properly assess the needs of the travelling and gipsy community and its development plan is out of date.

"We believe that on average there are 37 families living on unauthorised land in the borough at any one time - would it not be better for all concerned if they were absorbed into the community, rather than the current levels confrontation over unauthorised encampments?"

Smart Planning seeks permission for nine plots, totalling 27 caravans, on four acres of grazing land at Back Lane, East Hanningfield, currently owned by Chelmsford Car and Commercials, of Hanningfield Service Station, Southend Road.

Mr Forde commented: "Our application with its access road, hardstandings and amenity blocks makes a fair compromise between the need for accommodation, rural character and moderate landscape change and accessibility."

Published Monday June 7, 2004

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