Planning Application – Gypsy / Traveller Site on Radford Road

Planning Application

Proposal:
Material change of use of land to a Gypsy and traveller site for 2 pitches each with 3 caravans and associated operational development (hardstanding, access track, shared package treatment plant, amenity blocks, sheds, kennel /dog run and post and rail fencing) – Retrospective

Application Number: CR/2021/0243/FUL

CBC Planning Applications

Case Officer: Mr M. Robinson
phone (01293) 438951
email Marc.Robinson@crawley.gov.uk

Location:
Land East of Radford Farm (and West of the access road to the Thames sewerage treatment works), Radford Road, Crawley, West Sussex.

Lower Hollow Copse Travellers Site

Revised Plan for Gypsy and Traveller Site
26th February 2020 – Crawley Observer
website www.crawleyobserver.co.uk

By Joshua Powling
email crawleyobserver@jpress.co.uk

Revised plans for a gypsy and traveller site in Copthorne have been published for public consultation.

Mid Sussex District Council approved an application from itself for a change the use of land at Lower Hollow Copse to house a total of pitches across two areas back in February 2019.

But the council is now proposing eight new permanent gypsy and traveller pitches on the site.

Now it is encouraging residents to have a say on the revised plans for the site.

Judy Llewellyn-Burke, deputy leader of the district council, said: We have listened carefully to the feedback from local residents.

“This latest proposal has fewer pitches, so the space is less densely populated and provides a nicer environment for the residents.

“The provision of eight permanent pitches at Lower Hollow Copse will form an important part of our duty to provide accommodation for the Gypsy and Traveller community.

“It will also ensure our district plan remains compliant with planning legislation and that we retain control of future development in Mid Sussex.”

The proposal includes a site managers office, a landscaped open area for children’s play as well as parking and private amenity space on each pitch.

A protective barrier along part of the perimeter will reduce noise and this will be accompanied by the planting of trees and shrubs to help the site blend in to the natural surroundings.

There will also be a footpath to link the site to Copthorne village.

The plans and an explanation of the proposals are available to view online by visiting: www.wyg.com/planning/consultations/hollow-copse

The public consultation runs until midnight on Tuesday March 31.

Comments can be left by completing an online questionnaire via the web page link.

A hard copy of the questionnaire can also be submitted by post to Lower Hollow Copse Consultation, WYG, Wharf House, Wharf Road, Guildford GU1 4RP.

Questionnaires can be obtained from reception at Mid Sussex District Council, Oaklands, Oaklands Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 1SS (phone 01444 458166).

Crawley News – Outcry as Travellers Site Given Approval

Residents Anger as Caravan Site Plan is Approved
Controversial plan puts travellers site in outskirts of Crawley
29th February 2019 – Crawley Observer
website www.crawleyobserver.co.uk

By Karen Dunn
Local Democracy Reporting Service

email karen.dunn@jpress.co.uk
phone 01403 751279

There were cries of ‘shame on you’ and disgusting’ from the public gallery as Mid Sussex District Council approved a gypsy and traveller site in Copthorne.

Mid-Sussex was both applicant and planning authority for the application to change the use of land at Lower Hollow Copse to house a total of 13 pitches across two areas.

Before the planning meeting, in Haywards Heath, protesters gathered outside the council building bearing placards calling for Copthorne to be treated fairly and branding the area’s district plan a ‘sham’.

Mark Kosky, of the Pot Common Protection Association said “We feel that it’s unsuitable for a site due to its dangerous nature.

“It’s a very complex issue and we feel that Mid Sussex are not treating the gypsy community fairly nor the local community fairly.

“We fully understand the gypsy requirements and in fact, support them. But the district plan itself states that they should be in the strategic sites at Burgess Hill and Hassocks.”

There had been plenty of objections to the application, with a 2,500-name petition submitted, as well as more than 380 letters opposing the plan.

Among the concerns were noise levels, the relatively small size of some of the pitches, and the safety of children who would have to cross the A264 to get to school.

A spokesman for Worth Parish Council asked the meeting: “It3 considered dangerous for adults to cross this road. How can it be safe for children to cross it on the way to school?”

Tony Dorey (Con, Copthorne & Worth) sent a written submission to the meeting, as he was unable to attend.

In it, he questioned the viability and location of the site, the validity of the application, and the ‘actions and methods that have been adopted to arrive at the submission of this application’.

Mr Dorey listed concerns such as the application being a joint submission between the council and the land owner, but funded and driven by the council; and the fact there would be council-owned and privately-owned plots.

He said that he had been assured by senior officers that they were confident of the legality of the application, but he added that the ‘number and severity of issues surrounding it do create the perception among the local residents that something contrived has gone on’.

Chairman Robert Salisbury (Con, Cuckfield) told members: “We are here with clear, open minds and I will not accept anything that looks as though it is slightly biased.”

The application was approved unanimously.

Travellers Site at Lower Hollow

8th September 2018

Land At Lower Hollow Copse Copthorne Road Copthorne West Sussex

Proposed change of use of land to residential to form two Sites.

  • Site A – proposed laying out of 10 permanent pitches for the gypsy and traveller community. Erection of a site manager’s office and amenity blocks and laying out of internal roads, parking, and associated drainage works and landscaping.
  • Site B – proposed laying out of 3 permanent pitches for the gypsy and traveller community; associated access roads, drainage works and landscaping.

Single vehicular access to Copthorne Road to serve both sites. Provision of footpath within the highway verge along Copthorne Road.

After undertaking a public consultation Mid Sussex District Council have now published revised planning application for their proposed traveller site.

The full planning application submission is available to view on the Mid Sussex District Council’s planning website and the planning application reference number is: DM/18/3525

Mid Sussex District Council, as the Local Planning Authority will undertake consultation on the planning application; All feedback must now go directly to the Local Planning Authority in response to the planning application consultation.

Date for submissions – Fri 05 Oct 2018

Planning Details used as part of the public consultation

Invitation to second Travellers Site Consultation

This message forwarded on behalf of WYG plc in regards to the Traveller Site Proposal at Lower Hollow Copse, Copthorne

Plans to re-submit the planning application
14th December 2017

Please find details below – regarding the second public event on the proposed change of use to provide gypsy and traveller accommodation on land at Lower Hollow Copse (Pot Common), Copthorne Road, Copthorne.

The evening exhibition will be held on Friday 12th January 2018 from 16:00 – 20:00 at

The Parish Hub
Borers Arms Road
Copthorne
West Sussex
RH10 3ZQ

Members of the development and technical teams including Corporate Estates and Facilities Business Unit, Mid Sussex District Council and WYG will be on hand to explain the scheme, listen to your suggestions and answer queries.

This follows the original event which took place on 7 November. The date and location of this second event is being widely advertised on Social Media, in posters around the village and in the local press.

Comment forms will be available at the exhibition should you wish to submit written comments. Alternatively you can submit comments via the following link

Comment forms will be available at the exhibition should you wish to submit written comments. Alternatively you can submit comments via the following link www.wyg.com. The deadline for comments is Monday 29 January 2018

If you attended the first event on 7 November and submitted comments please be assured these will be considered following the above deadline.

Kind Regards,

Mat Jarman
MSDC Consultations

phone 01444 458166
email consultations@midsussex.gov.uk
website www.midsussex.gov.uk

Working together for a better Mid Sussex

Invitation to a Travellers Site Consultation

This message forwarded on behalf of Thuso Selelo in regards to the Traveller Site Proposal at Lower Hollow Copse, Copthorne

Plans to re-submit the planning application
3rd November 2017

Dear Sirs,

The Corporate Estates and Facilities Business Unit, Mid Sussex District Council, along with the current site owner, intend to re-submit the planning application for public and private gypsy and traveller accommodation (GTA) at land at Lower Hollow Copse, Copthorne.

We are therefore holding a public consultation and exhibition (flyer below) on Tuesday 7th November 2017 and invite you to meet with the technical and design teams on the day.

I look forward to you hearing from you in due course.

Kind regards

Thuso Selelo BSc (Hons) MBA MRICS
RICS Registered Valuer
Business Unit Leader
Corporate Estates & Facilities Business Unit
Oaklands Road, Haywards Heath
RH16 4TF

phone 01444 477 425
email thuso.selelo@midsussex.gov.uk
website www.midsussex.gov.uk

Working together for a better Mid Sussex

Traveller Site Proposal – Copthorne Village Association

This message forwarded on behalf of Copthorne Village Association in regards to the Traveller Site Proposal

Success for the CVA!

We’re delighted to let you know that Mid Sussex District Council’s Development Manager has now agreed with the representations first made by the CVA on 31st August, that the Old Hollow application should never have been validated as there had been no community engagement.

This means the application can’t now proceed unless a proper community engagement exercise is undertaken.

Extract from the letter sent to the applicant:

Copthorne Village Association
Supporting a Sustainable Future for your Village
Email: email info@copthornevillage.org
Website: website www.copthornevillage.org
Facebook: Facebook Copthorne Village Association
Post: The CVA, c/o Copthorne Bank Post Office, 6 Copthorne Bank, Copthorne RH10 3QX

CVA Logo

Disclaimer: The information contained in this document is provided by the Copthorne Village Association (CVA) for general guidance only. Information provided is subject to change. Always check that it is up to date. The CVA does not guarantee or warrant the information as error or omission free. The CVA is unable to provide any express or implied warranty as to the accuracy, timeliness or completeness or any other aspect of the information supplied. In no event shall the CVA, its agents, officers or volunteers be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever (including but not limited to liability or loss of use, data or profits) arising out of or in connection with any content on, or accessed by, use of this publication, copying display or other use.

Crawley Observer – Gypsy/Traveller Site Plans

Anger over plans for new gypsy and traveller sites
12th September 2017 – Crawley Observer

website www.crawleyobserver.co.uk

By Sarah Page
email sarah.page@jpress.co.uk
phone 01403 751200

Angry residents are putting forward scores of objections over plans to site two gypsy and traveller sites on land on the edge of Crawley.

Mid Sussex District Council is proposing to change the use of the land at Lower Hollow Copse, Copthorne Road, Copthorne, to site 16 permanent traveller pitches.

It is proposed to build the pitches on two sites – one housing 12 pitches and another housing four pitches, along with access roads, a manager’s office, amenity blocks, drainage works, parking and landscaping.

But a flood of protests against the proposals have been submitted to the district council by people living in the village, as well as in neighbouring Crawley Down and in Crawley.

Many say there is already a new residential development nearby and that there is insufficient school places, shops, doctors’ surgeries and other infrastructure in place to cope with further expansion.

There are also fears the development would lead to increased traffic leading to further congestion in the area.

In a letter to the council, one protester, from Bowers Place, Crawley Down, says: “We have two huge gypsy traveller sites already – we do not need more.”

Another woman, who lives at Abergavenny Gardens, Copthorne, states: “I object. Why would we want traveller pitches put on that beautiful piece of land so it can get ruined. Copthorne is a small village and it’s built up enough already. We already have one site.”

A woman from Rustlewood, Crawley, says: “I believe that this will have a severely negative impact on the area, purely because the fields are used by many dog owners and the general public for walks.

“The Old Hollow is a country lane and by this proposal going ahead will cause the country aspect of the environment to diminish significantly.” She said she feared many habitats would be destroyed around Copthorne Road.

A man living at Old Hollow itself added: “The proposal will unduly urbanise the site to the detriment of the rural character of the area by being wholly out of keeping with the surrounding land uses.

“The proposal will also adversely affect trees within the site that help contribute to the rural character of the area.”

No date has yet been set for the planning application to be considered.

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