A cabinet minister has called in the plans for a permanent travellers site in Brighton.
Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles will review the decision to approve the plans for the Horsdean site.
The scheme was approved by the South Downs National Park Authority Planning Committee last Thursday (13 February).
The proposal was submitted by Brighton and Hove City Council. It allows for a 12-pitch extension to the current transit site, making a total of 33 pitches, housing up to 150 travellers and all their vehicles at any one time.
The proposed site is in the South Downs National Park.
The announcement that the planning permission would be reviewed was welcomed by Patcham Conservatives.
Councillor Geoffrey Theobald spoke against the application at last week’s national park authority planning meeting.
Councillor Theobald argued that the proposed new site would contravene national planning guidance issued just last month that traveller sites should be built in areas such as Horsdean only in exceptional circumstances.
Two local experts in hydrology – one a former managing director of Southern Water – also spoke against the application.
They raised serious concerns about the effects a new site would have on both the quality of the drinking water in the aquifer and extraction adit that sits directly below Horsdean and also on the amount of waste water carried from the site through the already overrun sewerage system that serves Patcham.
Councillor Theobald said: “I am very pleased that the Secretary of State has listened to the people of Patcham and beyond and decided that these ill-thought through plans need further consideration.
“I campaigned long and hard for the national park to be established in order to protect the South Downs from inappropriate development.
“I feel that last week’s decision by their Planning Committee was a betrayal of all that I, and many others, fought for.
“If this is going to be allowed then what is to stop other downland sites being developed for conventional housing, particularly with the planning inspector recently telling the city council that their housing target is far too low?”
Fellow Patcham ward councillor, Carol Theobald, added: “Given the regular flooding we see at Patcham, it would be absolute madness to tag another large settlement on to a sewerage system that is clearly struggling to cope with the current levels of water entering it.
“The Horsdean site itself is also prone to flooding and concreting over large parts of it will further exacerbate ground water run-off.
“We don’t feel that these concerns, and the concerns our experts have about pollution of the water supply which serves the whole of Brighton and Hove, have been taken seriously by the SDNPA committee.
“Horsdean simply isn’t a viable location for such a large traveller camp.”
Conservative candidate for Patcham ward Karen Miles said: “I always thought the A27 bypass was supposed to act as a corset around the city beyond which no further significant development would take place.
“Therefore, I very much hope, for the sake of local residents and all those who value the unique South Downs landscape, that Eric Pickles overturns this decision.”
has anyone been there lately ? its little bit like some Cement plinths that you wonder why they bothered its all very clean yes but when i spoke to a traveler that happened to be there when all his ” mates ” other travelers we’re in Wild park he said he was not one for breaking the law , but its all hassles for them to officially be there , he did go in to great GREAT detail about the procedures to get a pitch there .. find out for yourself what a FRIGRAMAROL it is oh and what is that unpleasant smell . Cows slurry or something not to far away in the flooded lane to the camp
has anyone been there lately ? its little bit like some Cement plinths that you wonder why they bothered its all very clean yes but when i spoke to a traveler that happened to be there when all his ” mates ” other travelers we’re in Wild park he said he was not one for breaking the law , but its all hassles for them to officially be there , he did go in to great GREAT detail about the procedures to get a pitch there .. find out for yourself what a FRIGRAMAROL it is oh and what is that unpleasant smell . Cows slurry or something not to far away in the flooded lane to the camp
Dear Mr Eric pickle,
I am sure We all appreciate your enthusiasm in conserving the environment, however you will have to find an alternative to accommodate these people. The Brighton and Hove traveller strategy states that unauthorised sites are moved on a weekly basis and in some cases some of the sites entrances have been blocked up. It appears that your efforts are delaying an issue that has not been dealt with. Moving people on a weekly basis is not socially, economically and environmentally sound neither. Do you have a solution that acknowledges the reality of this situation?
Sincerely,
Miss Emma
Dear Mr Eric pickle,
I am sure We all appreciate your enthusiasm in conserving the environment, however you will have to find an alternative to accommodate these people. The Brighton and Hove traveller strategy states that unauthorised sites are moved on a weekly basis and in some cases some of the sites entrances have been blocked up. It appears that your efforts are delaying an issue that has not been dealt with. Moving people on a weekly basis is not socially, economically and environmentally sound neither. Do you have a solution that acknowledges the reality of this situation?
Sincerely,
Miss Emma
i think you will have noticed them “traveling community ” last week in Withdean sportsman car park and some are now in Wildpark moulsecoomb , the sad thing is the wildpark preventative measures FAIL so badly can anyone see where “SNEAK IN THROUGH ..”
view google link .. http://goo.gl/maps/Rvqxu
what can clearly be seen is the gated entrance is clearly LOCKED CLOSED most of the year..
http://goo.gl/maps/I2EAX
lets hope the experts at the council can put in a slightly better ” mound of mud along the perimeter of that lovely open space … they have managed to do it nicely at Withdean parks
i think you will have noticed them “traveling community ” last week in Withdean sportsman car park and some are now in Wildpark moulsecoomb , the sad thing is the wildpark preventative measures FAIL so badly can anyone see where “SNEAK IN THROUGH ..”
view google link .. http://goo.gl/maps/Rvqxu
what can clearly be seen is the gated entrance is clearly LOCKED CLOSED most of the year..
http://goo.gl/maps/I2EAX
lets hope the experts at the council can put in a slightly better ” mound of mud along the perimeter of that lovely open space … they have managed to do it nicely at Withdean parks
i see they have left Wild park and its a shocking mess i found toilet paper in the woods from emptied “porta toilets no doubt ..” and i see the park field will need a big big bit of upkeep to clear the detritus and tyre tracks .i think i saw them heading for Stanmer park .. GREENS hurry hurry this park has for many many years been the last stand for them DONT UNLOCK THE GATES THIS TIME … Lock the doors to them when they leave the city boundaries.
i see they have left Wild park and its a shocking mess i found toilet paper in the woods from emptied “porta toilets no doubt ..” and i see the park field will need a big big bit of upkeep to clear the detritus and tyre tracks .i think i saw them heading for Stanmer park .. GREENS hurry hurry this park has for many many years been the last stand for them DONT UNLOCK THE GATES THIS TIME … Lock the doors to them when they leave the city boundaries.