Village to be damned

BY STEVE LOWE

Picture postcard village houses set to have gypsy neighbours
Controversial plans for a gypsy caravan site to be built next to a quiet village were being tacitly welcomed by borough council officers almost a year before they were revealed to local residents.

It was even implied the site might resolve the difficulty of the Government's insistence on providing 15 more gypsy pitches by 2011.

Bedfordshire on Sunday has seen emails written by borough council officers in January last year - eleven months before a planning application was placed.

These concern land on Waiting for the Sun farm in Bletsoe.

A planning application to build 16 caravan pitches and four amenity blocks on the site was submitted in December.

This could be just the start as the Government is encouraging local councils to allow more gypsy sites through planning applications.

In January last year an email was sent on the subject by borough council planning officer John Copeland.

In the email he said: 'Further to my recent inquiry as to where we are up to in terms of provision of gypsy accommodation.

Mr Allen owns a site known as 'Waiting for the Sun', just off the A6 north of the turn to Bletsoe village.

'The total site area is 2.1 hectares. He has made it known for some time that he considers the site suitable for gypsy accommodation.

'Not sure what the process will be to identify a site/sites for our bit of the stated need but is there anything I can say to him at the moment in terms of timescale/site identification, criteria etc.

'What would we do if he made an application now - just assess it on its merits? Access on an unrestricted section of the A6, limited local facilities, but site partially screened which could be added to etc...'

Head of planning at Bedford Borough Council, David Bailey, emailed back: 'Good old Tommy Allen. Do nothing for now until we start the process of allocations towards the middle/end of this year.'

It is believed Mr Allen owns two more fields near this proposed site, which would fulfil the borough council's needs for gypsy sites.

Bletsoe residents have formed an association to try and stop the development and have started a petition which, so far, has 2,000 signatures.

Its chairman Colin Deas, said: "This was not put on a list of planning applications and notices have been issued late.

"I think this is planning with prejudice. I will be satisified when council officers, paid for by council taxpayers, say 'Good old Bletsoe'."

Another local resident, who did not want to be named at this stage, said: "What puzzles me is the comment 'What would we do if he (Mr Allen) made an application now - just assess it on its merits?'

How else would it be assessed? Is there one rule for Mr Allen and another for everybody else?"

A local estate agent said that the development would significantly reduce the value of houses in the area.

A borough council spokesman said: "The Government has in Circular 01/2006 and subsequent guidance stated its commitment to promote more private gypsy and Traveller sites on appropriate sites through the planning system.

"Bedford Borough will have to provide up to 15 new pitches to 2011 (and more beyond) through the requirements of the Regional Plan and local authorities are required by Government to make that provision through the development control and plan making process.

"This, of course, includes officers exploring the suitability of potential sites that may become available at any time.

"The planning application at Bletsoe remains under consideration."