Plans for travellers' site in Monks Eleigh receive more than 80 objections

Two Monks Eleigh householders, against plans for a travellers’ site near their homes, have instructed a planning consultancy and barrister to act on their behalf.

Plans to turn a plot of land north of Second Pits in Highlands Road, between Monks Eleigh and Kettlebaston, into a travellers’ site, comprising a mobile home, two caravans and a day room, have attracted more than 80 objections from residents, with one neutral and two in support.

Independent planning company Landmark, from Leigh-on-Sea in Essex, has been instructed to act for nearby residents, Mr and Mrs Scott, of Second Pits, and Mr and Mrs Murphy of Wagger Farm, a Grade II listed building.

In a report to Babergh District Council, Landmark group chief executive Ian Beatwell said: “The Scotts and Murphys raise objection to the proposal on the basis that it is clearly contrary to the development plan and to national policy for travellers’ sites.

“In this case, we are acting together with John Dagg, a barrister at Trinity Chambers, Chelmsford.

“This site is patently open countryside and it is well away from existing settlements. The development would, in its scale and nature, dominate our clients – the nearest settled community.”

The application has been submitted by landowner Mr D Penfold, who was granted planning permission for horses to reside on the land in 2015. According to a planning report, he plans to live on the site with his family.

Kettlebaston Parish Council held an extraordinary meeting earlier this month to discuss the proposal and 15 members of the public attending were against the plan.

It concluded the application should be refused, as it would be contrary to planning policies limiting new traveller site development in open countryside.

Babergh’s senior environmental protection officer Joanna Hart said her team had no objections to the application on noise, odour, light and smoke matters, except for no burning of waste and no external lighting being installed.

And Babergh’s senior environmental management officer Nathan Pittam said: “ I have no objection to the proposed development from the perspective of land contamination.”

Helen Simpson, of The Street, Kettlebaston, said she supported the application.

“I think that being open to minority groups is a plus for any community and that the reason this particular group struggle to integrate is because of negative attitudes. It would be a boring old world if we were all the same.”

And Kit Bird, of The Street, Chelsworth, said: “My wife and I regularly drive and walk past this site. It seems suitable for its proposed purpose.”