Anger at caravan site plans
Man hits out at council's shortlisted gypsy sites
A man has hit out at councillors after land he put forward for a touring caravan park was shortlisted as a legal site for travellers.
Robin Barker, of Lucas Way, Shefford, applied for planning permission to convert his land at Magpie Farm, Upper Caldecote into a touring caravan park.
But he faced stiff opposition from villagers and his application was refused by Mid Beds District Council on the grounds of it being detrimental to the character of the area and unsuitable access.
The landowner was then forced to sell to a group of travellers and was shocked to see that the site was on the shortlist for 22 additional pitches in Mid Bedfordshire.
He said: "It was a long time ago that, but it still exactly the same up there. And I remember specifically the panning officers saying to me there is no way you can get caravans turning around in there.
"So I was pretty shocked to see that it had made the shortlist. I was just trying to make the best of my land."
But Mid Beds say the site is now for only seven pitches where as Mr Barker had originally applied for 100 caravans and then 20 in a revised application.
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Weather for Biggleswade
Sunday 05 February 2012
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