A GYPSY and Traveller ‘transit site’ near Lutterworth must stop renting pitches to people who are not members of those communities, a planning inspector has ruled.
Harborough District Council issued an enforcement notice at Grove View, Mere Lane, Bitteswell in May 2019, following concerns that caravan pitches at the ‘transit site’ – which can only be occupied for a defined period – were being rented to occupants who were not members of the Gypsy and Travellers communities.
The Council also said an excessive number of caravans were using the site when the current planning permission states that no more than four caravans are permitted.
The landowner lodged an appeal against the Council’s enforcement notice – but an independent Planning Inspector has ruled in favour of the Council.
The landowner must now comply with the enforcement action by August 1 2020, by which date the pitch has to revert to a transit site to be used only by Gypsies and Travellers.
The Inspector also ruled that up to seven caravans – rather than four – should be permitted to use the transit site, and that a toilet block should be provided by the landowner.
