A TRAVELLER site consisting of seven caravans has been refused planning permission.

The proposed site was situated on the A44 London Road, one mile from the edge of Moreton-in-Marsh, and sits on the boundary of Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and Gloucestershire.

West Oxfordshire District Council’s (WODC) uplands area planning sub-committee decided to turn down the application, with officers highlighting how the site applicants had illegally felled trees almost 10 years ago.

The report states the site was a ‘bluebell wood with substantial centenary trees’ that were illegally felled in 2012.

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The report adds: “The applicants illegally felled trees on the site and there is a court order requiring them to replace them.

“The application does not appear to address this.”

In the council report, it is stated that London Road would see an increase in accidents as it is a ‘fast and dangerous stretch of road’ and ‘a dangerous place to put an access for seven households’.

The site was recommended for refusal with travellers instead to be offered ‘housing and support through social housing within their local district’.

In a consultation comment, Great Wolford Parish Council objected to the application, citing concerns over ‘illegal waste bonfires’.

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The comment read: “The parish of Great Wolford is located in Warwickshire and the land which is the subject of this application is just a matter of yards away from this boundary.

“The parish council therefore considers the parish to be an affected party.

“The council recognises that there are pressures on local authorities to ensure that all the community have their housing needs catered for.

“However, the site proposed is not suitable for residential use for a number of reasons.

“The Four Shires Farm, adjacent to the proposed site, has a number of residential caravans already spread across their site.

“This situation is under investigation by Stratford District Council’s planning compliance team and although there may be no connection between the farm caravans and the caravans that will use the proposed site, this seems unlikely.

“The Four Shires Farm has had a recent history of illegal waste bonfires sending toxic smoke over the area.

“Waste skips being emptied on site have been observed and on one occasion in February, the fire brigade was called to the site to investigate.

“Should these waste fires continue, and we have no guarantee that they won’t, the close proximity of seven families subjected to the toxic fumes and smoke gives rise to concern, especially considering that young children may be affected.”

In other consultations, Oxfordshire County Council highways did not object, saying the proposal would not have a ‘significant detrimental impact in terms of highway safety and convenience’, while no comment was received from Cotswold District Council.

The planning application can be viewed on the WODC planning portal, using the reference number 21/02181/FUL.