Plan to add more pitches to traveller site not allowed to go ahead

A plan to add more pitches to a traveller site will not be allowed to go ahead after an appeal was thrown out by a government inspector.

Wychavon councillors turned down a plan to build six traveller pitches in Ombersley near Worcester earlier this year saying nearby roads would not be able to cope.

The applicant had turned to the government’s planning inspectorate, which has the power to overrule the council, in a bid to get the decision overturned but the appeal was thrown out.

Planning inspector Simon Hand said the site the ‘tipping point’ about the size of the traveller site and the state of the roads around the site in Conhampton near Ombersley had almost been reached four years ago, before any new pitches were added, and the extra traffic would be “harmful” and “create pressure” as well as be “disrespectful” towards the village.

Mr Hand, who revealed he had faced difficulties of his own having to reverse through the “narrow and tortuous” roads to pass a delivery van and a tractor during a visit to the site, said adding more plots to the site would be “approaching the point of danger.”

The plan would have seen space for six caravans, including a maximum of three mobile homes, and three amenity blocks built.

The first plot already had permission for five pitches alongside a further six pitches across two other plots.

As many as 12 pitches have been built nearby off Dog Lane and a further two pitches have been built at Acton Villa.

Wychavon District Council’s planning committee went against the advice of council officers and rejected the plan in February – a year after the plan had first been put forward.

Councillors said they were concerned that the narrow roads around the site, including Comhampton Lane, Glebe Lane and Acton Lane, were “inadequate” and the lack of passing space would cause problems.

The committee added that the restricted roads and tight bends would push cars into verges to pass each other, causing damage, and the extra traffic would be “dangerous” and create more hazards.

Highways officers at Worcestershire County Council said the size of the roads were inappropriate for a traveller site.