Chobham Pennypot Lane travellers win planning appeal

Travelling showmen who were told to leave a field in Chobham have won an appeal and been given planning consent so they can remain on the site.

The group turned the field in Pennypot Lane into six caravan plots in 2002 and had applied to Surrey Heath Borough Council to stay there permanently.

Since 2002, the travellers have made several applications and appeals but were ordered to leave.

Surrey Heath council said an inspector had given the group planning consent.

'Special circumstances'

The latest application by the group in November 2010 had been refused by the local authority on the grounds the site was in the green belt.

Councillor Liane Gibson said: "While we are mindful of the needs of the showpeople, the council is disappointed by this result given our refusal of the planning application and our long-standing opposition to the continued use of the site on the basis of its impact on the openness of the green belt."

She added: "We are in the process of studying the decision in detail and will be considering any future options."

She said the inspector had concluded the proposal resulted in "substantial harm" to the openness of the green belt.

But the inspector allowed planning consent because the personal circumstances of the group and their need for a site amounted to special circumstances.