Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Traveller site still no smaller despite council’s ruling
‘Cramped’ camp had illegally tripled in size
A traveller site that illegally tripled in size is no closer to having its excess motorhomes removed. Thirty-seven of the homes were moved onto Moate Farm in Fordwich, near Canterbury, without the city council’s say-so last year.
The owners of the site were forced to retrospectively apply for planning permission – but that was thrown out by city council officers who believed the camp is too “cramped”. When it was rejected in January, the authority said it “will consider the way forward” if the unauthorised use of the land continues. But the Gazette can reveal Moate Farm has still has not reduced in size. Canterbury City Council spokesman Rob Davies said: “The use of the land continues to be unauthorised. We are in communication with the landowner about resolving this. “Preferably this would be without needing to resort to formal
enforcement action, but this will be the approach we will take if necessary.”
Mr Davies confirmed a deadline for the excess motorhomes’ removal has not been set. Cllr Dave Wilson, who represents the neighbouring Barton ward, believes the authority will wait until the six-month period in which the decision can be appealed ends. “They’re hamstrung in what they can do,” the Labour politician added.
“In some ways I think it’s frustrating, particularly when there’s a fairly serious breach of the planning regulations, which this appears to be.
“It’s a very large extension and hasn’t only just occurred. People are concerned – there are lots of negative impacts, partly due to the scale of the site.” Moate Farm’s size has been at the centre of controversy for several years.
The local authority rejected a bid to increase its capacity from six to 20 caravans. This was overruled three years ago by a government planning inspector, who cited the district’s lack of traveller provision as the main reason for his verdict.
A report published by the city council in 2018 concluded that it needed to create 11 new pitches across the district by 2022. “There hasn’t been adequate provision in the past, and that needs to be sorted out,” Cllr Wilson added.
“I’ve got loads of sympathies with the travellers from that point of view, but it doesn’t mean they should take the law into their own hands and build wherever they feel like it.”