CONTENTIOUS proposals to allow gypsies to continue to live on land near Malvern have been put on hold.
An application has been submitted to Malvern Hills District Council to extend the use of a site in Bastonford as ‘gypsy/ traveller accommodation’.
But members of the council’s Northern Area Development Committee decided to defer it at a meeting on Wednesday (July 1) due to fears over visibility at the entrance and exit.
The Mountain View land, near Powick, has been occupied by an extended family of 21 for the last three years.
The council originally refused the scheme in 2011 but the applicants were successful in an appeal which gave them temporary permission to live there for three years. That permission expired in March.
Highways bosses had raised objections four years ago, but as no incidents had been reported since then they have not opposed it this time around.
However, Coun Tom Wells, councillor for the area, felt they could not make a decision without a representative from Worcestershire Highways being present.
“I have concerns that highways are not represented again,” he said.
“It seems like a desktop exercise that they did not get out and measure any of the visibility splays.
“I am disappointed I have not got an opportunity to vent my spleen at the highways department.
“The three local schools have indicated they are not educating any gypsy children but the agent is saying they are. Someone has got to be wrong.
“I hope next month we will be able to assess this application properly.”
Concerns were raised about children from the family, who use Peterborough as their main location, not being sent to school. The meeting heard, however, two of the children will be educated in Malvern and Rushwick in September.
Plans were unanimously deferred by members.
