2:32pm Tuesday 5th August 2008
By Craig Evry
AN illegal gipsy camp near Melksham is now lawful after retrospective planning permission was granted by West Wiltshire District Council.
Gipsies moved onto land next to West Wiltshire Crematorium in Semington last year after legally buying it from a local landowner.
The gipsies developed the land into a private caravan site over the course of a weekend, before the district council put a stop notice on the site, to prevent further development.
A planning application was later submitted and approved for a period of three years by councillors on Thursday night, subject to conditions.
The site must be properly landscaped, any outstanding repair work must be carried out and the land will have to be maintained for the duration of three years.
The planning permission flies in the face of opposition from local residents and the parish council in Semington.
The district council said permission would satisfy the short term unmet needs of the occupants of the site according to the Regional Spatial Strategy, Development Plan Document and Local Development Framework.
A spokesman said there were no suitable alternative sites available in west Wiltshire.
Full story and reaction in this Friday's Wiltshire Times & Chippenham News.
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