By Andrew Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
A heated debate on plans for new traveller pitches close to a leafy village was decided on a casting vote after councillors were split on the proposals.
Newark and Sherwood District Council’s planning committee could not come to a decision on the plans, for Chestnut Lodge in Barnby Road, Balderton.
A split vote of six votes for and against led to a committee chairman issuing his casting vote to approve, fuelling a chorus of groans and cries of “disgrace” from the public gallery.
The plans were submitted by Tom Holmes for 19 new caravan pitches, the relocation of two existing pitches, a new manager’s home and an amenities building.
They were rejected by the authority in April after councillors raised concerns about the size of the proposed house.
The initial proposal was a five-bedroom, two-storey home which the April committee felt was an “intensive” property based in the countryside.
The most recent committee, on Thursday (August 10), debated amended plans including the home being reduced to a three-bedroom bungalow.
This amendment was deemed “acceptable” by council officers and the previous refusal – voted through by 13 votes to one in April – was seen as no longer necessary.
However, a heated meeting at Castle House heard of objections from concerned residents in nearby Barnby in the Willows village.
Concerns included the loss of open countryside and the potential overbearing impact on local amenities.
A petition with 126 signatures – nearly half of all residents living in the village – also called for the plans to be stopped amidst villagers telling the Local Democracy Reporting Service they are “up in arms”.
And Graham Bett, chair of the village parish council, said on Thursday: “This application is fundamentally the same one put before the committee in April.
“It was thrown out by 13 votes to one with plenty of good reasons why.”
He said the area has felt a “proliferation of traveller sites” and said: “The council may have obligations … but this is not to supply travellers with houses.”
Councils across England are required to set out housing sites for all members of society, including travellers.
The Government sets the guidelines to be used by local authorities and, across Newark and Sherwood, there are currently 400 pitches.
The majority of these are around Tolney Lane, Newark, though the Labour-led council must find 77 more pitches by the end of next year.
Out of 22 sites put forward to the authority, only three were considered suitable, including Mr Holmes’ land.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service last week, Mr Holmes said: “The council asked me to consider using this land for a traveller site.
“I know a lot of people who do not have anywhere to live and a consultation deemed my land to be the best place for this.”
The plans were recommended for approval at Thursday’s meeting but some councillors remained unhappy.
Concerns included a lack of street lighting, public transport and pavements connecting to nearby settlements.
And Cllr Sue Saddington (Con), who represents Muskham, described the plans as a “recipe for disaster”.
Others feared setting a “precedent” after officers said the bungalow alone wouldn’t be deemed suitable if it didn’t include traveller pitches.
But Cllr Andy Freeman (Lab), the committee’s chairman, said: “We’re a planning committee being requested to look at gypsy and traveller sites across our district.
“We have to finely balance this. The previous committee, perhaps, saw an easy way out as the manager’s house was too large.
“This has been addressed, and therefore I can change my vote [from the previous committee].”
