Planners have permitted a controversial scheme to double the size of a traveller site in West Wellow. 

The application, submitted by Glyn Powell, is to add two pitches to the site in Wellow Wood Road. 

Each pitch contains a mobile home, touring caravan and dayroom.

The scheme was previously discussed by Test Valley Borough Council's southern area planning committee on Tuesday, November 28 when it was deferred. They permitted it on Tuesday, December 19.

The scheme proved to be controversial because Test Valley is currently short of its requirement for Traveller and Gypsy sites. However, national planning policy states that sites shouldn't 'dominate the settled community'.

Nearby resident David Grosscurth objected at the committee. He said: “The residents of Wellow Wood have been concerned for some time now about the growing number of Gypsy/Traveller pitches in Wellow Wood Road. 

“Wellow Wood is a small hamlet of seven residential properties with an estimated headcount of 13 souls. Approval tonight would result in seven occupied Gypsy/Traveller pitches in Wellow Wood, with an estimated 18 occupants.

“Within less than half a mile from Wellow Wood there are two other Gypsy/Traveller sites, with an estimate of more than 20 occupants. 

“Paragraph 14 of the PPfTS states: 'When assessing the suitability of sites in rural or semi-rural settings, local planning authorities should ensure that the scale of such sites does not dominate the nearest settled community.'

“This is a fundamental safeguard and the application should fail on this criteria alone.

“We urge the committee to refuse the application and test the decision at appeal should that arise.”

Cllr John Parker said: “The nub of this is we don't have the supply. If we did, we might have reasons to challenge this. But it's obvious we don't have the supply and that, we are advised, should weigh very heavily.”

Cllr Sandra Gidley said: “This hinges on the council's lack of supply. This has been a known problem for a long time. Why hasn't the council pulled its finger out to find sites?”

Cllr Phil Bundy, the council's portfolio holder for planning, said: “There are a number of sites, but part of the consultation is to determine if they are suitable. You also can't force landowners to give sites for Traveller use. Planning officers have been looking at sites across the borough. There's not an easy solution.”

The plans were approved by six votes to one.