Group of Gypsies make fresh bid to stay in Meriden

Gypsies moved caravans on to a field off Eaves Green Lane in 2010

A group of Gypsies has made a fresh bid to stay in the West Midlands after they were told to leave their illegal site.

A High Court judge rejected their appeal in April against a decision ruling their development on greenbelt land in Meriden was illegal.

They have now submitted an application to Solihull Borough Council for a temporary site at a nearby builders' yard on Eaves Green Lane.

A decision is expected to be made in October.

'Urgently needed'

The group originally put up eight caravan pitches on greenbelt land off Eaves Green Lane in April 2010.

In July 2010, Solihull Borough Council refused to give the Gypsies retrospective planning permission, a decision upheld by Secretary of State Eric Pickles in October 2011.

The travellers reached an agreement with the council to leave the site by the end of March 2013.

Last week, seven families submitted a temporary application to redevelop a builders' yard on Eaves Green Lane for eight caravans and timber sheds for toilets, showers and cooking facilities.

A supporting statement for the application said the site was "urgently needed" after efforts to make alternative arrangements had "drawn a blank".