Councillors warn Gypsy family over caravan pitch plan

A Romany Gypsy family who set up home in open countryside in North Yorkshire have been urged to reconsider their plans for caravan pitches and an amenity block or face having them rejected.

Oathie Sykes and his family, who include nine children, moved onto farmland off Cornborough Road, Sheriff Hutton, without planning permission, three years ago.

They had moved from the council-owned Tara Park travellers’ site, in Malton, after being subjected to “fly-tipping, raves, loud music, rat infestation and threats of violence”.

The family are seeking consent for four pitches laid in a square, each featuring a static caravan, space for the siting of a touring caravan and two car parking spaces, as well as a permanent amenity block.

An agent for the family told the North Yorkshire Council’s Thirsk and Malton constituency planning committee the family had occupied the site for three years and their personal circumstances “weighed heavily in favour of allowing them a settled base” to access education and health services.

There was no longer capacity at Tara Park and therefore there were no available pitches for the family in the planning area, planning officers told the meeting.

However, objectors pointed out there were plenty of available spaces at the council-run travellers’ site 12 miles away in Osbaldwick.

Some 76 residents had lodged objections to the plan with none in support. Many raised concerns over the impact on the countryside and claims the planned amenity building would be “a gross overdevelopment” given that caravans feature washing facilities.

The meeting heard the authority had received “a handful” of letters of objection that it had not published online due to “the nature of the material”.

An objector told the meeting planning officers’ support for the proposal was “heavily weighted on the personal circumstances of the applicant and his family, in particular the children” and the applicant appeared to be “flagrantly ignoring” planning constraints.

He said: “If this application was approved it would set a very dangerous precedent and what would be the message council would be sending to other residents, voters, council taxpayers?”

In an extraordinary move for a council planning meeting, where normally all discussions and decisions are held in public, the gallery was cleared of residents as councillors were given extra information about the family’s personal circumstances.

Councillor Caroline Goodrick, who represents Sheriff Hutton and chairs the committee, said she was concerned about the proposal as it was a significant development in open countryside and the amenity building would be permanent.

Several councillors said they were concerned about what the site would develop into if they gave consent to the family to remain.

Councillors agreed to postpone making a decision for two months to allow the family to reconsider their proposal.