Row over caravans plan for former piggery site
Permission is for plans lodged 13 years ago with the council
A ROW has erupted over an attempt to put caravans for a gypsy family on a former piggery on the edge of a Leicestershire village.
Michael Maloney wants to put two caravans on the plot off Woodway Lane, Claybrooke Parva, but planning officers are opposing the move.
Mr Maloney is seeking a certificate of lawful use to put the caravans on the site based on a planning application that was granted permission nearly 13 years ago.
Officials from Harborough District Council say that permission expired in 2010 without the scheme ever being carried out, and have therefore advised councillors to refuse to grant the certificate.
The site is currently overgrown, but the old piggery buildings have been demolished and Mr Maloney is arguing that after 2007 some work was done to improve the access to the site.
He says this means the 2007 planning permission has not expired, so the certificate to complete the plan should be granted.
There have been 90 objections to Mr Maloney’s application from residents who say there should be no lawful use to live on the site as it has been unoccupied since at least 2005.
They also say they are concerned about highway safety, and that there are too many traveller sites in the area already.
Claybrooke Parva Parish Council has also said it strongly objects to the application.
A council planning spokeswoman said: “The applicant bears the burden of proving that the 2007 decision was implemented before its expiry on the April 17, 2010.
“There is little doubt that the applicant brought a caravan on the land in 2014, and that some hard-standing was created around that time also, shown on Google Map 2015. The nub of the issue, however, revolves around whether the 2007 permission was implemented before its expiry.
“The applicant has not discharged his burden of proof on the balance of probabilities.”
Members of the council’s planning committee will discuss the matter this week.