Unauthorised caravan site refusal will ‘split up family’, council told

APPEAL: Plea for ‘social conscience’ to be exercised ahead of review committee meeting this week

Angus Council has been urged to show a “social conscience” and overturn refusal of an unauthorised caravan site which will “split up a family”.

An appeal has been lodged following the local authority’s decision to turn down a retrospective application to turn land near Kirriemuir into a Traveller site despite a doctor’s plea.

This will be brought before a special meeting of the development management review committee in Forfar on Thursday where elected members will be told they will be “breaking the family bond” unless they overturn the decision.

Site owner John Townsley was previously granted planning permission for the existing Traveller pitch on the south-western edge of Kirriemuir.

Another pitch was later formed to the rear of the approved one following the

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The council propose to remove the daughter from the site through the use of the planning system. PLANNING AGENT ALAN SEATH

marriage of Mr Townsley’s daughter which prompted a planning battle.

Retrospective planning applications submitted by Mr Townsley have been turned down since July 2016 because they are contrary to the Angus Local Development Plan (2016).

Planning agent Alan Seath, who submitted an appeal after their most recent application was refused, said: “The council propose to remove the daughter from the site through the use of the planning system, relying on another publicly owned site at Balmuir, Tealing, where there will be no family support; where safety is a concern; and access to local facilities is difficult. These are all important factors to consider for a young woman suffering from ill-health and who has a young child to look after.

“Her health and well-being is being ignored contrary to doctors’ advice.

“The extended Townsley family now rely on the elected members of the local review board having a social conscience and understanding the material planning considerations which add significant weight in this case.”

The application is supported by letters from Mr Townsley’s daughter’s doctor confirming she was subject to a number of medical conditions and it would be “beneficial for her health to remain at this address”.