THE Government could intervene in the struggle between Wychavon District Council and the gipsies who have set up camp next to the Wyre Piddle bypass.

Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff has written to planning minister Keith Hill, who approved the construction of the bypass when he was a transport minister, asking him to meet a delegation from Wychavon to discuss the issues and limit the implications for other sites in the district.

The nine families moved onto the site next to Duffledown Farm last September, in defiance of an injunction taken out by the council.

Attempts to enforce the order at Birmingham Crown Court failed and the travellers then had a number of conditions relating to use of the site revoked at Worcester Crown Court in December.

The group, who are required to pay council tax, are appealing against the council's refusal to let them stay at the site, which will be decided by an independent inspector and could take six months.

Mr Luff said: "All of us must be bound by the same laws. For reasons I cannot understand, the courts have interpreted planning law for this site in a way they never would have done in other circumstances.

"This encampment has been established in direct contradiction of planning law. Wychavon District Council has acted speedily and properly, but the council has been undermined by the courts.

"If the word goes out that anyone can establish a caravan site wherever they choose - which is the implication of the judgements issued so far - the government's policies on planning and on the travelling community will be left in tatters."

Mr Luff added: "The irony is that Wychavon District Council has always fulfilled its legal and moral responsibilities to the travelling community - it achieved designation under the old Caravan Sites Act because it had provided sufficient pitches, one of a small number of councils to do so."

Brian Cox, agent for the travellers, said: "There have been two hearings, long hearings, in which the judges listened to arguments on both sides and said that there were no sites available for the families to go and there was a personal need within the families. An independent person has looked at the legal position and made the decision."

Mr Cox said he had also received 40 letters from residents living near the site offering their support for the travellers.

"If the MP would like to talk with me about the dilemma of gipsies throughout the country I would be happy to do so because there is a major problem," he added.