A BARNSLEY businessman has defended controversial plans to set up a gypsy camp on his land.

Derek Heeley submitted plans to the council for the former Cudworth railway station but they have met with opposition from local councillors and residents. Mr Heeley says the council has “forced his hand” into doing this because it wouldn’t allow him to take his land out of green belt to build houses and this one of the few things he could do with it.

He refutes council leader Steve Houghton's claims this is a knee jerk reaction to a housing application being refused because Mr Heeley says he withdrew the plans after cottages on his land were demolished.

He also argues the six acre site should never have been designated green belt because as an old railway station it has been in industrial use for 150 years. Speaking after last week’s public meeting, attended by more than 400 residents, he also said he would be willing to meet them face to face to discuss their concerns.

He said: “Barnsley Council has taken all this green belt land for those schools. Mine is industrial waste land. It is a derelict piece of land that should never have been put in green belt. It is hypocrisy.

“They have forced my hand. If they had let me take it out of green belt I would have put a few houses on for my kids and grandkids to grow up there. “I am only doing what somebody else would have done. Who wants their kids with mortgages around their neck when I have six acres of land?

“I have had travellers at my door for ten years wanting to buy that land. I have not sold it because they would have gone on there come what may. I have done everything by the book by applying for planning permission.

“So, I am not against the residents of Station Road because I could have put gypsies on there ten years ago.

“With regard to the need for a site does Coun Houghton believe there is one or not? How can he state there is no need while at the same time acknowledging a waiting list for 64 caravans. He should have known about these figures as the cabinet on which he sits is responding to the report.

“I would be quite willing to speak to residents face to face and tell them why I have put this application in and let them make their own minds up.”