A PLAN to increase the number of caravans on a traveller site near Pershore was rejected by council planners.

The application for the gypsy and traveller site to allow for three extra touring caravans at Hill and Moor Meadows in Evesham Road, Lower Moor, would have pushed the total number up to 12.

A condition was already in place which meant no more than nine caravans could occupy the site of which no more than six can be static.

The site, to the north of Lower Moor near Pershore is already used for static and touring caravans and has three amenity buildings for traveller families.

The application would reposition two existing touring caravans and two mobile homes to free up space for an additional three caravans within the boundary of the site.

At a meeting of Wychavon District Council’s planning committee last Thursday (March 7), Councillor Liz Tucker, who represents Pinvin, said: “What started off as two local families has now become a very significant plot in a highly visible area of the village without even a lot of screening.”

“Don’t underestimate how the disbelief in planning exists in that village and how unsupported they feel.”

“I don’t want to in any way deny the need for traveller pitches but I do feel you have got to draw the line at some stage.”

Cllr Adrian Darby: “I think we could argue that putting three extra touring caravans when we have specifically allowed for those three pitches not to have touring caravans in our previous approval does, I think, give a reason for refusal as overdevelopment of this site.”

Cllr Val Wood: “The interests of the settled community are being totally ignored. I understand enforcement is still in progress on this site and basically I think they are just laughing at the planners.”

The plan was rejected by 10 votes to one with two abstentions.