A GYPSY family has appealed against East Hampshire District Council’s decision to refuse their application to use land in Sleaford for caravans.

The part-retrospective application - to use land at Riverside Paddock, in Forge Road, Sleaford, to host one static caravan, one touring caravan, hardstanding and a water treatment plant - was thrown out in November.

Prior to the decision, the application had been met with numerous public objections.

Most concerns centred around a risk of flooding and possible impact on wildlife and plant life.

Some of these fears were echoed by East Hampshire District Council, which refused the plans on the grounds that the applicant, Alan Burrows, had “not demonstrated that he and his family travel for economic purposes and, therefore, had not satisfied the definition of a gypsy or travellers as defined in planning policy”.

The council also said that the site was located in a flood zone and it was worried that caravans there could “cause danger to the development or the occupiers of the site”.

Also, it was felt that there would not be “suitable foul drainage facilities for the occupiers”.

The district council added that the development was on a Site of Interest for Nature Conservation and “from the information available” it could not be shown “that the development can be accommodated in a manner that would not cause harm to protected species”.

And as the development was “in close proximity to the Wealden Heaths Phase II Special Protection Area and the Broxhead Kingsley Common Site of Special Scientific Interest”, more work would be needed to assess whether the application would “have a significant effect on these important nature conservation areas”.

There were also more general concerns about the “nature, character and appearance” of the development, which is “visually intrusive and significantly detrimental to, and out of keeping with, this rural area”.

But documents submitted by the agent, Buckinghamshire-based Joseph Jones from planning consultancy BFSGC on behalf of applicant Mr Burrows, who is a Romani gypsy, said it was “important that the family have a stable place to live”.

“The change of use is sustainable and should have little impact on the surrounding area and, as such, is in line with the principals of economic, social and environmental sustainability,” Mr Jones added. “An unmet need in the area is clear and has been identified.”

He also said the family needed to continue to access local healthcare and education, adding: “In our opinion, very special circumstances exist and have been demonstrated to justify the granting of planning permission.”

Undeterred by the district council’s refusal, the applicant has appealed to central Government to overthrow the decision.

To comment, visit acp.planningportal.gov.uk. All comments must be received by February 16 and should quote reference number APP/M1710/W/15/3141363.