Sherfield-on-Loddon gypsy site set to be refused

As previously reported in The Gazette, the owners of land off Dixon Road, in Sherfield-on-Loddon, applied to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to change the use of the land to house three gypsy pitches after they illegally felled 500 trees.

But the borough council has now written to planning consultants, acting for one of the landowners, to state that borough officers are minded to “recommend refusal” because of the “adverse impact” the proposal will cause.

Over 500 comments from members of the public have been submitted to the council regarding the application.

The application was submitted by Green Planning Studio, on behalf of Boysie Biddle, of Justin Park, Leicestershire, who is one of the owners of the land.

Mr Biddle, along with the other registered owners of the land, John and Sammy Smith, of Almond Close, Farnborough, and James Tombs, of Forest Farm, Tadley, were issued with a court injunction to prevent them from carrying out any further unlicensed work on the land.

They were also ordered to return the land to how it was by the Forestry Commission.

The borough council has calculated how much money the applicant should contribute towards the local community, if the application was approved.

Recommended contributions total £17,608.53, which includes towards highways and leisure facilities.

A report prepared by the borough council states: “The development will generate seven additional local residents.

“It is recognised that this represents a small impact but the development does result in additional pressure on existing facilities in the locality of the site.

“Therefore, an ‘appropriate’ contribution towards mitigation of these pressures is justified.”

The report adds that the contribution towards highways will “mitigate against the cumulative impact of this development within the A33 corridor.”

The application has not yet been determined and is still pending consideration.