PLANS to create a gypsy site in Smithies just a stone’s throw away from a larger traveller site have been approved by Barnsley Council’s planning board.
An application to use the land off Wakefield Road, called Hill Top Park, as a site for a caravan was submitted to the council in March last year.
After deliberation, these plans were approved by the planning board earlier this week.
A report states: “The proposed design of the site is for one family, the siting of a static caravan and parking for two vehicles.
“The static unit will be fully caravan compliant in line with the caravan legislation.
“The existing site is hard surfaced and will allow for generous amounts of parking and manoeuvring for the family vehicles so that vehicles can always leave the site in a forward gear.
“Lighting posts are proposed, along with a fence on the eastern boundary and a wall at the entrance to the site as demonstrated on the below site plan.
“The fence secures the site and also prevents dogs (popular walking site to the rear) from entering the site.”
The site is situated just behind a car repair garage, though the report states there are no issues in regards to the proposed location.
“As mentioned previously the site is located in a predominantly commercial area characterised by a mix of uses interspersed with residential properties, with the nearest residential properties being located approximately 120m to the north and 70m to the south-west and as such the use of the site as a gypsy/traveller site would not significantly impact surrounding properties,” the report added.
“As such this carries significant weight in favour of the proposal.
“The site is located to the rear of commercial properties, particularly a motorcycle shop, with a car repair garage to the south and a car sales garage to the west.
“The majority of the commercial premises in the area are nine-to-five businesses and it is not considered that the surrounding commercial businesses would have a detrimental impact on the residential use.
“Pollution control have been consulted on the application, and no objections have been raised.
“As such this carries significant weight in favour of the proposal.”
Concerns were initially raised by the Mining Remediation Authority in regards to the position of the day room and its close proximity to mine shaft locations.
However the day room plans were subsequently scrapped.
Coun Phil Lofts, who represents the Old Town ward, raised concerns from local residents in relation to the ‘proliferation’ of travellers in the area.
However, the plans were given the green light by the planning board earlier this week.
The report said: “Material planning considerations have been fully explored by the appropriate consultees who have raised no objections to the proposal subject to conditions and holistically this weights moderately in favour of the application.
“Having balanced all material planning considerations, the positive aspects of the proposal outlined above are not outweighed by any other materials planning considerations and as such the proposal is therefore, on balance, recommended for approval subject to conditions.”
