DATE: 01 Dec 2007
This large inquiry sat for 6 days between December 2007 and March 2008 and considered a post-C1/2006 application for planning permission to continue the use of the controversial gypsy site at North Curry, Taunton. The original 16 pitch site had been established suddenly over a weekend in October 2004. An enforcement notice had been upheld on appeal in 2005. The present application was for a much reduced area. The site was not in the Green Belt and had no special designation. A nearby junction was deficient but it was said that the small number of extra vehicles from the site would make no material difference to this. The Council had a good record of providing gypsy sites but there remained an unmet need and the Council had not identified any new sites. The appeal was nevertheless dismissed. The decision is now being challenged on the basis of the Inspector's treatment of precedent.
Richard Langham appeared for the local planning authority.
