MORE gypsy pitches are going to be built in Semington next to West Wiltshire Crematorium, despite strong objections.

The traveller’s site called Greenaces Mobile Park on the A361, is already home to Patrick Ward and his family, who have lived there since 2008.

In November plans were submitted by Thurdleigh Planning Consultancy on behalf of Mr Ward to expand the site from three pitches to nine because of lack of space for the residents.

And last week Wiltshire Council approved the proposal to add six more pitches, each with a mobile home, caravan and two parking spaces. Three will also have single-storey dayrooms with an extra three planned for a later stage.

However the plans have been the subject of strong opposition from Semington Parish Council, West Wiltshire Crematorium and residents living nearby.

There were more than 70 letters of objection; some of the concerns raised include loss of privacy and peace for mourners visiting the crematorium.

West Wiltshire Crematorium said there had already been issues with dogs from Mr Ward’s site barking and roaming into the crematorium, fouling in memorial areas and causing distress to visitors, so they were worried more dogs could cause additional disturbances.

They were also concerns about the impact it would have of the character of the village and increased traffic, however Wiltshire Council Highways raised no objection to the plans.

Semington Parish councillor Kevin Lockwood is disappointed with Wiltshire Council’s decision to approve the new pitches, he said: “Every time we turn something down they put it through, they don’t really care for us. We have become an easy target and Wiltshire’s planning development team should be finding them proper sites.”

Greenaces Mobile Park is one of three gypsy sites near the A361 and A350 roundabout. All of which were granted permission following appeals. The six extra pitches will bring the total number in the area to 16.

Wiltshire Councillor Jonathan Seed also thinks the development is ‘inappropriate’, he added: “I am disappointed that both my views and those of eighty Semington residents were ignored by the Strategic Planning Committee.”