Premature start on Traveller homes site

MP SPOKE OUT AFTER 'BLATANT DISREGARD' FOR RULES

- By EDDIE BISKNELL Local democracy reporter

PLANS for a Traveller site have been submitted for a field close to homes and a school in a Derbyshire village - despite work having started five months ago and being subject to legal action.

The scheme, filed by S Rogers to South Derbyshire District Council, would see the facilities installed in a field to the rear of homes in Woodville Road, Overseal, next to the primary school.

A planning application filed by the owner states that work on the site began last August, without permission.

This had resulted in a temporary stop notice being served on Mr Rogers by the district council, prohibiting any further work taking place or face “immediate prosecution”.

In the notice, the council stated that Mr Rogers had submitted his planning application to the authority on August 22 and that work would commence on August 23.

“Extensive deposits” of hardcore for beginning “unauthorised” building work were moved onto the site on August 22, residents and councillors reported, and photos showed.

The council said the application did not contain any information explaining how the River Mease would be protected from harm, including from potential contamination during construction.

It had said the site was outside the settlement boundary “in an area of open countryside” and metres from 30 homes.

A post and photos in early September from Samantha Niblett, South Derbyshire MP, showed further works including a track constructed on the site and extensive fencing for the three pitches and the overall plot boundary.