A SECOND enforcement appeal hearing over gypsies living on land east of Devil’s Lane is expected to conclude today at the Millennium Centre.

The four-day hearing led by Government inspector Tim Belcher is hearing an appeal against the issuing of an enforcement notice by East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) last February.

It required caravans on the site to be removed and the large area of hardstanding to be dug up and removed from the site.

Timothy Leader, the lawyer representing EHDC, pointed out in his opening statement that the site is set in tranquil, high-quality landscape with contributes to the rural setting of Liphook and that the gypsy and traveller development has damaged the tranquility of the area, as well as harming the character of the landscape.

He stated the existing access was substandard, and although improved access would assist to the site, Devil’s Lane is narrow and with poor visibility, lacking passing places and safe refuges for walkers and cyclists.

He added the scheme also threatened biodiversity, since populations of hazel doormice had been recorded in the vicinity, which are protected species under the wildlife and countryside act.

Mr Leader concluded that the scheme conflicted with the development plan and ran contrary to the Secretary of State’s policy for travellers sites

He also asserted it was “unsustainable”.

Members of the Chiltley Lane Action Group, comprising at least 59 households in the area, also prepared an opening submission, objecting to the deemed planning application for four caravans on the site.

Members consider the time period of 12 months given to comply with the notice was generous and should not be extended under the ground appeal.

They stated the site had been occupied in the full knowledge there was no planning permission for stationing residential caravans on it and it represented an intentional breach of planning control, which should weigh heavily against the potential grant of any retrospective planning permission, the inspector heard.

According to the Land Registry, the site was bought by three men – Felix Connors, Ned Connors and Michael Connors. But only Felix Connors was named as the appellant at the hearing.

Action group members claim none of the men have been the main occupants since use of site began in early February last year.

They said the main occupants were Eastern European men who work for Felix Connors in his business Oaklands Paving Solutions, previously known as Lantern Drives and Patios, and that the site was being used as a business premises.

In addition, the action group stated it was only recently that Felix and Mary Connors occupied the site on a minimal basis and their eldest child had sought a place at a school in Bordon, five miles away.

It also pointed out that the adopted policy in East Hampshire requires anyone setting up a new home in the countryside outside village boundaries to show a strong need for doing so, and that the real need in this case is a need to house workers for a Hampshire-based business.

Mr Masters, lawyer for the appellant, claimed there are not enough suitable existing sites in the district to house gypsies and travellers.

In his opening statement, he explained to the public gallery the background and differences between Romany and Irish travellers, who have been living in the UK for hundreds of years.

He also pointed out the housing problem only started after the last world war and accused EHDC of an absence of a five-year supply of gypsy sites and of consistently ignoring and failing the need to identify sites for gypsies and travellers to live on, which has led to them having to buy land instead.

He stated the government policy directs gypsies and travellers to find land near settlements and that the site east of Devil’s Lane complies with this and is highly sustainable as well as extremely well hidden from sight.