‘Not a cat in hell’s chance of traveller site here’
CONFIDENT PREDICTION BY FIRM REVAMPING NEIGHBOURING HALL
THERE is “not a cat in hell’s chance” plans to site travellers’ caravans in Blaby’s conservation area will be given the go ahead, according to lawyers of a firm that has just taken on the historic hall neighbouring the site.
Roy Coley, from Sowden Group, the development firm that is renovating Blaby Hall, was among 300 people who packed a public meeting on Monday arranged by Blaby Parish Council.
He said: “We’re fairly confident there’s not a cat in hell’s chance this will be approved.
“That’s with our lawyers having looked at the paperwork. There are issues with the fact it is in a conservation area, drainage, access.”
When a resident called out and asked if the firm would buy the land if it went up for sale, Mr Coley said: “We’d almost certainly be interested in buying it, should it come up for sale.”
Councillor Graham Harding, chairman of Blaby Parish Council, read a statement from Blaby District Council in which the authority said it would not be sending a representative to the meeting because it was an ongoing application and officers were yet to make a recommendation.
Residents were then invited to have their say on the application. The main concerns raised included the development being in the conservation area, access to and from the site and the loss of wildlife habitat. Flooding and drainage problems were also highlighted.
Coun Harding said: “This isn’t about what will be there or who wants to put it there, it’s about protecting our conservation area and countryside.
“This will be a good test of the neighbourhood plan – that document exists to protect the village from development in the countryside.
“That land is listed as countryside in the neighbourhood plan.
“The parish council strongly opposes this application. We will be pointing out the relevant planning laws – there are plenty that this application seems to go against.”
Out of 799 comments on Blaby District Council’s website, two are in support of the application.
Blaby District councillor Geoff Welsh said the district council had agreed to extend the consultation period.
He said: “As far as I’m aware, Blaby district has met its requirement in terms of traveller pitches until I think 2023.
“This isn’t about us saying no travellers, it’s about putting traveller sites in suitable places.
“This is a conservation area, it isn’t suitable for any kind of development.”
Several residents also raised concerns about the enforcement notice served to the site’s owners ordering them to replant protected trees that were ripped down last summer.
The owners have until January 31 to replant the trees, but have said in the application that new trees will be planted if permission is granted.
It is not thought the applicant or a representative was at the meeting.
Blaby District Council has not yet set a date for the meeting where the application will be debated and decided, but a spokesman confirmed that the statutory consultation period runs to November 1.