Kirton gyspy and traveller site plans refused
An application to transform agricultural land into a gypsy and traveller site has been refused.
A proposal for 14 pitches on 1.89 hectare site off marsh Road, Kirton, was turned down by Boston Borough Council.
Reasons given by the authority included flood risk fears, that there are no allocated gypsy and traveller sites in the area and that the proposal would ‘introduce an uncharacteristic and unjustified form of development in the open countryside’.
“The proposal falls within Flood Zone 3, Danger for All and is within the ‘high vulnerability’ flood risk vulnerability category,” the refusal letter states.
“Additionally, there is insufficient information to demonstrate how the development could operate safely over its lifetime.
“The site is unallocated, and located in an open countryside location, and there is no identified need for 14 additional sites in the Boston and South Holland Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment.
“There is also no overriding justification or information which demonstrates that the proposed use is necessary to be located in the open countryside.”
“The proposal would introduce an uncharacteristic and unjustified form of development in the open countryside, which by virtue of its direct and in-direct characteristics would be detrimental to and would fail to respect the scale, character, appearance and amenity of the area.”
The council added that ‘insufficient information has been provided to demonstrate that the proposal would not have a detrimental impact upon The Wash Special Protection Area’.
“There are no allocated sites within the Boston Borough area for gypsy and traveller pitches, and it could be argued that there is no need for pitches as identified in the Boston and South Holland Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment,” the planning officer report read.
“The proposal therefore conflicts with Policy 20 of the South East Lincolnshire Local Plan (2019).
“Furthermore, the proposal is deemed as being contrary to Policy 1 of the South East Lincolnshire Local Plan (2019) as new development in the ‘countryside’ should be necessary to such a location and/or meet the sustainable development needs of the area in terms of economic, community or environmental benefits.
“The proposal would introduce an uncharacteristic and unjustified form of development in the open countryside, which by virtue of its direct and in-direct characteristics would be detrimental to and would fail to respect the scale, character, appearance and amenity of the area.”
The application – put forward by agent Martin Winfield on behalf of Burnside & others – had hoped to use the land, currently a grazing site for horses, for 14 temporary pitches for up to pitches for three years.
Thirty-one third party objections were sent to the council, arguing the site would be detrimental to the open countryside, be out of character in the area, offer insufficient parking, create drainage and waste issues, raise wildlife and ecology concerns.
The objections also raised concerns about anti-social behaviour and potential pressure on local amenities.
Further objections came from Kirton Parish Council and borough councillor Ralph Pryke.
Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and the RSPB also objected due to the application not containing ‘sufficient information to demonstrate that there will not be, alone or in combination, an adverse effect integrity of The Wash SPA’.
