Row over plan for caravans at Faenol:

AROW over a proposed site for gypsies near the famous Faenol Estate has intensified. Trees have already been uprooted and sewage could seep into the Menai Strait, opponent Andy Hemmings has warned.

Gypsy Tony Riley has applied to Gwynedd County Council to put eight caravans on his own land in a compound in Coed Fodol in Y Felinheli near Bangor and denies there will be problems.

Gwynedd Council says the application will be treated on its “individual merits”.

Yesterday Mr Hemmings, who has written to the authority objecting to the proposal, said: “The centre portion of the site has already had all of its trees felled.”

He also claims that no statutory signs or advisory notices are displayed on the land to indicate that a planning application has been submitted.

“My understanding on this is that the council are legally obliged to advertise and place such notices.”

Mr Hemmings is also worried about the land and potential sewage.

He said: ” The Nant Garth river is currently high and fast flowing through the site and the ground is already muddy and water logged all over.

“This site is not suitable for any form of building to be placed here let alone caravans.

“I have concerns over the proposed sewage plant to be buried on site if the application succeeds.

“If the site floods then there will be potential for the plant to be breached or compromised with the potential for raw sewage to leak and mix with waters that will foul the river and flow directly into the Menai Strait, polluting both.”

He also claims that the site will generate waste, refuse and rubbish.

But dad-of-four Mr Riley, 41, insisted that all local authorities will need to provide facilities for travellers by 2016.

On Mr Hemmings’ claims, he said: “The wind uprooted the trees and I’m using them for logs.

“I’ve had a flood assessment and Natural Resources Wales has backed it up, and a treatment plant will deal with sewage.”

Mr Riley said he owns the land and only relatives will use the permanent site.

Gwynedd Council would not address specific issues at this stage.

But an authority spokesman said: “The Council has received a planning application for a permanent site at Coed Fodol, Y Felinheli.

“No date has been set for presenting the application to committee at present.

“Every planning application is considered on its individual merits and objections presented are considered as part of this process.

“The Council considers all planning applications in accordance with the relevant local and national planning policies.”