
Tuesday 13 February 2018
Travellers who set up a campsite on green belt land without planning permission have been allowed to stay for at least three years because forcing them to leave would breach their 'human rights'. They refused to move from moorland off New Hey Road at Scammonden, West Yorkshire, where they have set up an unauthorised site.
After failing to get planning permission from Kirklees Council they took the issue to a formal appeal which was heard at Huddersfield Town Hall. Now the inspector, John Murray, has made his ruling and granted the travelers the right to stay for a three-year temporary period as they have 'very special circumstances'.
Mr Murray said forcing them to leave would 'constitute a serious interference with their human rights.' After three years the land must be fully restored to how it was before. The site, near the former Nont Sarah's pub, was set up at the start of last year and only then did the travelers seek planning permission, which was refused. They then ignored deadlines to quit the site, which they own. The plans were for a development of pitches for four families of Irish travellers.
Each would have two caravans - one mobile and the other touring - and there would be another static caravan too, making nine in total. Cars would also be parked on the site. The retrospective application was submitted to Kirklees Council by Warwickshire-based development consultant Philip Brown, who said previously: 'They felt they had to get on with it. In their view, they did not have any choice.
4 year lawful development rule could end in April 2023
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