Planning Request To Make Traveller Site Permanent

A planning application has been submitted to Wrexham Council to ‘relax’ current restrictions on a Gypsy and Traveller site on Homestead Lane, just off Ruthin Road.

Planning permission has been in place since 2005 allowing one static caravan, one touring caravan and associated sheds for residential use by one local Gypsy family on the site. This was amended in 2011 to take the static caravan off the site and replace it with ‘one temporary portable building’ for use as accommodation.

The new requested amendments look to change the current permissions from being specific to the current residents, to becoming generally applicable. The application states the current residents are not in good health and they have concern that if such permission is not granted their children could be left without a home,  or, have to reapply to live on the site if something should happen to them or they have to move from the site.

If this new permission is not granted and for whatever reason the parents and current permission ‘holders’ cease to live on the site the land would revert back to its original usage – believed to be agricultural.

A further part of the application is a request that visitors can have ‘one extra touring caravan OR camper van’ temporarily on site.

The residents do state they would notify Wrexham Council as and when visitors would be present in this manner, and note that such events would take place for weddings, christenings or funerals, all of which are an ‘important cultural aspect of Gypsy and Traveller life’.