A Traveller family fighting enforcement action over an unauthorised site near Richmond has warned they could be left living at the side of the road if their planning appeal fails.
Jamie Miller has appealed against a North Yorkshire Council enforcement notice requiring action to reverse the unauthorised development of land south of Mill House, Hudswell.
Mr Miller and wife Naomi put down gravel and concrete on the corner of the field and installed a mobile home, a caravan and two sheds on the plot earlier this year.
The couple, who have Romani heritage but say their families have lived in Skipton for five generations, moved onto the site, which they have called Miller’s Meadow, with their two adult sons.
Mr Miller’s planning agent argues there is no suitable alternative Gypsy and Traveller accommodation available for the family locally or elsewhere in North Yorkshire and says losing their current home could leave them with nowhere appropriate to go.
The appeal statement adds: “The only other alternative, given the evidence that is set out in this statement, would be a life at the side of the
road and the inherent dangers that would go with that, including the potential criminalisation of the appellant if he and his family have to live at the side of the road.”
North Yorkshire Council served an enforcement notice on August 14 after the land had been changed from agricultural use to accommodate the two caravans.
The notice also covers engineering works involving hardcore, gravel and concrete hardstanding, as well as structures, boundary walls and fences and the widening of the access road.
Planning agent Mike Carr, of MAT Design Limited, argues that changes to national planning policy introduced after the enforcement notice was served have implications for the case.
The appeal claims the former Richmondshire area cannot demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable traveller sites and says the most recent Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment dates from 2013.
The appellant says the family has searched for alternative culturally appropriate accommodation but none is available locally or elsewhere in North Yorkshire.
The appeal statement says: “The only other alternative, given the evidence that is set out in this statement, would be a life at the side of the
road and the inherent dangers that would go with that, including the potential criminalisation of the appellant of if he and his family have to live at the side of the road.”
The statement adds that Mr Miller was unaware planning permission was required when work started earlier this year.
It also disputes the council’s assessment of the location.
While the authority describes the site outside Hudswell as being in an unsustainable countryside location, the appellant argues it is well related to Richmond, around 1.5 miles away, and has access to local services.
The appeal also argues that the development would not cause unacceptable highway problems.
The enforcement notice requires compliance within 12 months, but the appellant has lodged what is known as a Ground G appeal seeking more time should the challenge against the notice itself fail.
The family is asking for the compliance period to be extended to 18 months to provide additional time to find somewhere else to live.
The appeal statement says the existing deadline does not adequately take account of the family’s personal circumstances or the lack of alternative pitches.
These people should not be allowed to concrete over land wherever and whenever they want . This is happening all over the country and must be stopped
They say they are from the Skipton area going back 5 generations, so that is where they can find their traveller site instead of inventing nonsense reasons for violating planning rules and regulations in Hudswell. Other people have had planning applications rejected in Hudswell but have not brazenly ignored rules and regulations. The Miller’s appeal should be rejected.