logo
Travellers lose planning appeal to stay on West Sussex land

Travellers lose planning appeal to stay on West Sussex land

BBC News03-07-2025
The owners of a piece of land who developed it without permission for residential use by a traveller family have lost a planning appeal.Two static and two touring caravans were moved onto Staalcot Farm in North Heath, West Sussex, in January despite planning permission being refused by Horsham District Council.The local authority had said the plans proposed by developers from the traveller community would be "harmful to the rural character of the countryside location", and it issued an enforcement notice.A planning inspector agreed with the council that the plans would have an adverse impact on the area, but suggested a "smaller, well-designed proposal" could be more suitable for the land.
Lack of sites for travellers
Co-owners of the site, Tony Castle, William Hughes and Benjamin Keet laid hardstanding and waste tanks on the site near Pulborough, then moved caravans in on 18 January, in which Mr Keet and his family are currently living.Police were called to intervene after clashes between the travellers and local residents, but no further action was taken.Horsham District Council served an enforcement notice ordering them to remove the caravans and return the land to how it was before they moved in within six months.The landowners appealed against the order, claiming the site was well screened and not visible from the road or other properties. They also said there were no alternative places for the family to live.The plans were for four pitches, each comprising a mobile home, a touring caravan, a day room and a bike/refuse store.
Family told to leave caravan site appeal to stay
Following a one-day hearing in June, planning inspector Elizabeth Pleasant dismissed the appeal against the enforcement notice and the planning permission refusal. She said that "harm arises due to the scale and design of the proposed development in a rural landscape and adjoining a public right of way."But Ms Pleasant added that the council's "absence of a five-year supply of deliverable travellers' sites carries significant weight in favour of the appeal"."It would be in the best interests of the children on the site to allow the appeal, and this factor together with the lack of alternative accommodation carries substantial weight," she said.But she concluded: "The adverse impacts I have identified of granting planning permission significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits."
Ms Pleasant has given Mr Keet longer to vacate the site saying "a period of 6 months as set out in the enforcement notice is not a reasonable period for the site occupiers to find a new home".She also suggested a more suitable planning application could be considered in future."A smaller, well-designed proposal for the land may have a less harmful impact on the character and appearance of the area, and a longer period of time may give the appellant an opportunity to explore an alternative scheme," she said.Horsham District Council said: "We cannot comment yet as we need to consider in more detail the content of the decision report before we consider next steps."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Politics and protests: What to expect from Donald Trump's Scotland visit
Politics and protests: What to expect from Donald Trump's Scotland visit

ITV News

time2 hours ago

  • ITV News

Politics and protests: What to expect from Donald Trump's Scotland visit

Donald Trump will arrive in Scotland later on Friday, on his first visit to the UK since his re-election. The US president will be met by both political leaders and protests during the visit, which is expected to last five days, and will see him inaugurate a new golf course in Aberdeenshire. The trip comes two months before the King is due to welcome Trump for a formal state visit to the UK. The Trump administration continues to deal with turmoil on the home front, as the president struggles to salvage his reputation with voters amid reports around his friendship with convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. But Trump's visit to his ancestral home will hardly provide an escape from controversy. The visit has faced criticism from both political opponents and local residents, and will see a significant police operation across Scotland. Why is Trump visiting Scotland? Trump is expected to visit his Turnberry golf resort, as well as his course at Menie in Aberdeenshire. His trip also comes as a new golf course is about to debut on August 13, which the Trump family business has billed "the greatest 36 holes in golf." Trump is dedicating the new course to his Scottish-born mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, who grew up on the Isle of Lewis. But Trump's existing Aberdeenshire course has been mired in controversy in recent years, after it struggled to turn a profit, and was found by Scottish conservation authorities to have partially destroyed nearby sand dunes. Trump's company was also ordered to cover the Scottish government's legal costs after the course unsuccessfully sued over the construction of a nearby wind farm, arguing in part that it damaged golfers' views. Critics also argue the trip - which is expected to cost tens of thousands of dollars - is a blatant example of Trump blending his presidential duties with promoting his family's business interests. The White House has brushed off questions about potential conflicts of interest, arguing that Trump's business success before he entered politics was key to his appeal with voters. White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers called his visit "a working trip", but added that Trump has "built the best and most beautiful world-class golf courses anywhere in the world, which is why they continue to be used for prestigious tournaments and by the most elite players in the sport." Who will Trump meet during his visit? The president will meet with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during his stay, when the pair are expected to discuss the UK-US trade deal. Trump said the meeting would likely take place at one of his properties. He will also meet with Scottish First Minister John Swinney. The SNP leader previously said he would take the opportunity to raise various issues with the president, including tariffs, Gaza, and Ukraine. Speaking ahead of his arrival, Swinney said the global attention the visit will receive provides the opportunity to promote Scotland's tourism sector and economic investment potential, as well as to allow people to respectfully demonstrate the principles of freedom and justice. "Scotland shares a strong friendship with the United States that goes back centuries," he said ahead of the visit. "The partnership remains steadfast through economic, cultural and ancestral links - including, of course, with the president himself." The first minister said Scotland is a "proud democratic nation" that "stands firm on the principles of equality and freedom for all, and a society that stands up for a fair and just world." Swinney has been vocally critical of the US president in the past, and openly endorsed Trump's political opponent Kamala Harris before last year's election - a move branded an "insult" by a spokesperson for Trump's Scottish businesses. John Swinney has argued that it is "in Scotland's interest" for him to meet the president, and for the visit to go ahead. But some Scots disagree, and a major police operation is being mounted during the visit in anticipation of protests. Thousands of officers are expected to be deployed by Police Scotland, who will deal with planned mass protests around Trump's golf courses and major Scottish cities. Trade unions, disability rights activists, climate justice campaigners, Palestinian and Ukrainian solidarity groups and American diaspora organisations are among those holding demonstrations in protest of the visit. The Stop Trump Scotland group has encouraged demonstrators to come to Aberdeen and 'show Trump exactly what we think of him in Scotland.' A spokesperson for the organisation said: "The people of Scotland don't want to roll out a welcome mat for Donald Trump, whose government is accelerating the spread of climate breakdown around the world." They also said that people in Scotland "simply wanted to live in peace near what is now [Trump's] vanity project golf course", and have "experienced Trump's abusive and high-handed behaviour first-hand, long before he entered the White House." Protests are planned in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dumfries. During Trump's visit to Scotland in 2018, similar gatherings drew thousands of protestors.

TUI announces extreme day trips to Lapland from major UK airport
TUI announces extreme day trips to Lapland from major UK airport

Metro

time4 hours ago

  • Metro

TUI announces extreme day trips to Lapland from major UK airport

Summer isn't over yet, but TUI is already looking ahead to the festive season with the launch of its 'ultimate Christmas day trip'. Announced as part of the 2026 winter schedule, the travel company's 'Search for Santa' package is back, and this year, travellers from Cardiff Airport can get in on the fun too. The 'extreme' day trip — which costs £750pp and runs from 11 airports across the UK and Ireland — offers families the chance to jet off to Lapland, meet Santa Claus, and be back in their bed by evening. Travellers land in Kittila in Finland around midday before heading to the Snow Village, with its ice hotel, which features igloo-like rooms and an icebar. Then its time to hop on a sleigh ride, led, of course, by Rudolph. There'll be husky rides, snowmobiling, and storytelling ahead of the main event: meeting Santa and his elves in the snowy woodland. Flights depart from London Gatwick, Manchester, Newcastle, Bristol, East Midlands, Cardiff, Glasgow, Birmingham, Stansted and Dublin. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. A route from Bournemouth Airport to Lapland will also resume in Winter 2026 after it was suspended in 2019. It's a whirlwind winter adventure, but these day trips aren't without criticism. While a quick jaunt might be a chance to squeeze in a holiday without knocking your annual leave balance, there are environmental consequences to consider. A Facebook group called 'Extreme Day Trips', which boasts over 240,000 members, is a hub for advice on flights and itineraries, and whether making it there and back in 24 hours is even possible. Some UK travellers have made it as far as Dubai and New York in under 48 hours, while others have dashed to Cairo to see the pyramids in less than a day. Many more have taken advantage of Britain's proximity to Europe for a quick getaway. But Matt Phillis, travel expert at Polarsteps, previously told Metro that th trend is not without risk. 'A flight generates 100 times more carbon dioxide per hour compared to a train or bus ride,' he said. 'But short-haul flights, covering less than 1000 miles, contribute disproportionately more to carbon emissions. This is because take-off and landing are so energy-intensive.' For a more sustainable approach, Matt suggested taking the train or bus instead of flying. 'Taking the train from London to Paris instead of flying cuts your CO2 emissions by a whopping 90%,' he said. 'You'd be surprised by how easy it is to do a day trip to Brussels or Amsterdam if you catch an early Eurostar out of London. If you are flying, however, he recommends doing your research and using a sustainable airline. He said: 'British Airways is the highest-ranking UK-based airline due to its roadmap to net zero. 'When it comes to short-haul airlines, Easyjet ranks top with its emissions intensity being almost 18% lower than the global average.' Metro previously spoke to extreme day trippers about their fast flight turnarounds and jam-packed itineraries. Lauren Brogan became an accidental extreme day tripper after she calculated that a quick trip to Geneva would be cheaper than staying overnight at a hotel in Glasgow, near where she lives. Lauren found cheap flight tickets to the Swiss city on Skyscanner and paid just £52 for a return from Edinburgh, staying at a hotel by the lakefront in Versoix. She said she loved the 'spontaneity' of the trip, adding: 'It was a city I'd never thought about visiting before, but there were loads to see and do and it's absolutely stunning.' More Trending She organised a full itinerary, which included visiting the United Nations Building, Botanical Gardens, The Flower Clock, Favarger Chocolate Factory, the Broken Chair monument, Mont Blanc Bridge and Lake Geneva. Lauren said she would recommend an extreme day trip to anyone. She said: 'It's a great way to maximise annual leave and visit more places around the world on a budget.' However, there are some downsides, the most obvious one being time. Lauren said it was 'difficult' trying to fit everything into the trip, admitting that there wasn't enough time to see anything and that she 'still needs to go back to see more of the city'. Eloise Skinner, author and psychotherapist, warns that with extreme trips, 'people might be less concerned about the quality of the experience, and more about the ability to display the trip online'. She added: 'Another factor could be the sense of achievement or adrenaline as a whole – quick trips can feel thrilling, exciting and non-stop – all emotions that we can crave, especially if our daily lives start to feel routine and predictable.' These trips, she says, could result in negative health effects. She said: 'Exhaustion and a sense of being drained might be a result of extreme day trips. 'We might feel and bit disorientated since we don't spend long enough in a particular place to get our bearings or a sense of comfort within the environment.' Eloise advises that spending time researching may help 'reduce feelings of overwhelm and exhaustion'. She also advises 'finding ways to stay grounded during fast-paced trips' – such as scheduling moments to rest or 'move to a slower pace'. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Mystery as man 'dies' on US flight but then completely disappears MORE: I was Jet2 and Virgin cabin crew – here's 3 'secret' European destinations MORE: An-24 plane carrying 49 people crashes with 'no survivors' after vanishing mid-flight

Trump to land in Scotland on Friday for start of five-day private trip
Trump to land in Scotland on Friday for start of five-day private trip

South Wales Guardian

time5 hours ago

  • South Wales Guardian

Trump to land in Scotland on Friday for start of five-day private trip

The US president is expected to arrive at Prestwick Airport in the evening, before heading over to his Turnberry golf course in South Ayrshire. He is then expected to head over to his Menie golf course in Aberdeenshire before opening up a new course dedicated to his Scottish mother, who grew up on the Isle of Lewis. He will leave the country at some point on Tuesday. His presence will result in a significant operation from Police Scotland and thousands of officers, who are expected to deal with mass protests around his golf courses and major Scottish cities. Mr Trump will be greeted by Scottish Secretary Ian Murray when he lands, with the minister pledging to give the American leader a 'warm welcome'. He will meet with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during his stay when the pair will discuss the UK-US trade deal. The US president will also meet with First Minister John Swinney. The SNP leader previously said he would have the opportunity to raise various issues with Mr Trump, including tariffs, Gaza and Ukraine. Speaking ahead of his arrival, Mr Swinney said the global attention the visit will receive provides Scotland with an opportunity to respectfully demonstrate the principles of freedom and justice for all, while also promoting Scotland's tourism sector and economic investment potential. He said: 'Scotland shares a strong friendship with the United States that goes back centuries. 'That partnership remains steadfast through economic, cultural and ancestral links – including of course, with the President himself. 'As we welcome the President of the United States, Scotland will be showcased on the world stage. 'This provides Scotland with a platform to make its voice heard on the issues that matter, including war and peace, justice and democracy. 'It also includes the millions of Americans – many of them potential future tourists or investors in Scotland – who will watch their elected President as he visits our country. 'As First Minister it is my responsibility to advance our interests, raise global and humanitarian issues of significant importance, including the unimaginable suffering we are witnessing in Gaza, and ensure Scotland's voice is heard at the highest levels of government across the world. 'That is exactly what I will do when I meet with President Trump during his time in Scotland.' The SNP leader said Scotland is a 'proud democratic nation' that 'stands firm on the principles of equality and freedom for all, and a society that stands up for a fair and just world'. Ahead of protests expected around Scotland, he said people had a right to 'peaceful demonstration', adding that 'everyone has the democratic right to protect and express their views in a peaceful, and democratic manner'. 'That is right and proper,' he added. 'I am confident the vast majority of people protesting will do Scotland proud and demonstrate as they should – peacefully and lawfully. 'I am also confident that Scotland's police service can handle the challenge of keeping all our communities safe and, as they must, in maintaining the appropriate security any US President requires. 'This weekend is a landmark moment in our relationship with the United States, and I am certain it will be remembered for Scotland showing the world the very best of itself.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store