A CONTROVERSIAL plan for land in Hagley to be converted to be used as a caravan site for five traveller pitches has been thrown out.
Bromsgrove District Council’s planning committee decided to refuse the application to allow land at Wassell Grove Lane, Hagley, to be used as a site for the traveller pitches.
The application included plans to construct a 1.8m timber fence.
The five pitches on the application site are currently occupied by touring caravans.
However, permission was sought for both mobile homes and touring caravans, as well as small utility rooms on each pitch.
Councillor Ruth Lambert has requested the application be considered by the planning committee rather than being determined under delegated power, due to the public interest and the large number of comments from residents.
Council planners decided that, without the removal of a large amount of hedgerow, insufficient visibility would be provided on-site to allow drivers to safely see oncoming traffic and be seen by other road users before pulling out.
In addition, insufficient information was submitted to consider the forward stopping sight distances on Wassell Grove Lane, especially due to the sharp bend, which restricts motorists’ visibility of the access.
It was also deemed that those living on the development in the future would not have sufficient pedestrian infrastructure to access services within the local area, including public transport.
It was felt that this would pose a risk to highway safety and be at odds with the aim of planning policies to provide safe and suitable access for all.
In total, 83 objections against the development were received, with worries including the narrowness of the road, potential additional traffic, the impact on pedestrians, including children, using the road, the lack of footpaths or street lighting and claims that the site access is dangerous.
The Bromsgrove district gypsy and traveller and travelling showperson accommodation assessment shows that between 2024/25 and 2041/42, there is a need for 37 additional Gypsy and Traveller pitches across the district.
Planning documents add that it is evident that there is an identified need for additional pitches in the next five-year period, and that the council cannot demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable sites.
The applicants also consider the site to be within land that is grey belt, land in the green belt comprising previously developed land or a plot that does not strongly contribute to any purpose.
