An appeal hearing, organised after permission to create a new gypsy and traveller site was denied, has now been cancelled due to the new 'Plan B' Covid measures.

Wiltshire Council refused the application, for Tricky's Paddock on Brickworth Road in Whiteparish (ref: 20/06783/FUL), in October.

Mr James Gammell then appealed the decision.

The public hearing, which was due to take place on January 25 at The Red Lion Hotel, Milford Street, has now been cancelled.

According to the Planning Inspectorate, it was proposed that the hearing take place virtually as opposed to face-to-face, due the Government implementing additional measures to restrict the spread of the Covid-19 virus through its 'Plan B'.

A date in January was agreed for a virtual hearing. However, the agent advised that the appellant was unable to participate in a virtual event, so the event has been postponed for the time being.

The hearing will not be rearranged until it is possible to review the situation again, and the council will be in contact with the appellant once they have more information.

The application was for change of use of the land to use as a residential gypsy and traveller site for two pitches, each pitch accommodating two caravans, including no more than one static caravan/mobile home, and a dayroom, together with the laying of hardstanding and installation of a package sewage treatment plant.

Read more: Appeal hearing set for new Salisbury gypsy and traveller site

The grounds for refusal was that it would result in an increase in the number of pitches within the site "in an area of the site that has little screening within the wider landscape and would be visible from the main Brickworth Road (A27) to the north".

To view the plans in full, click here.

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