A HOME for Gypsy families, with space for caravans, a dayroom and a play area, will be built in Warminster despite residents' opposition.

The planning application, which includes four pitches, four mobile homes, four day rooms, four touring caravans and a play area, was approved narrowly by five votes to four at a meeting of Wiltshire Council’s Strategic Planning Committee on Wednesday.

A number of residents attended the meeting to oppose the plans and raised a number of concerns, including the risk of flooding and access to Bath Road where the site will be.

Nearby resident Jonathon Carver said: “There has been an insufficient assessment of localised flooding and there will be an enhanced risk to flooding.

“I would urge you to defer any decision till after a site visit.”

Warminster Councillor Rob Fryer added: “The main concern seems to be the high water table and the Bath Road entrance.”

The meeting at County Hall in Trowbridge heard the Environment Agency considered the area to be a flood risk zone one and that drainage pipes from the site would need to link with the main drainage system.

There were also issues raised around the access to Bath Road and the issue of vehicles travelling along the road exceeding the 30mph speed limit.

Councillor Pip Ridout said: “I’m totally unconvinced, although encouraged that the drainage officer is looking at the conditions, that this will work.

“I can’t get across the site because the field path is under water and I would need a rowing boat.

“Bath Road was almost closed recently due to water and many times in the past it has been closed.

“The landowner let this field to a lady with horses but they had to be removed because they basically got the equine version of trench foot – it was that boggy and unhealthy.

“Also there’s no pavement, and the two nearest schools are both full and oversubscribed.

“It’s not safe; how can it be safe to take children along this road?”

An application by landowner Jeremy Barney was initially withdrawn last year before it was resubmitted to Wiltshire Council after a reassessment of the site was conducted, due to a problem with a gas pipe.