Villagers' 'no' to showman's plan (From Andover Advertiser)

Villagers' 'no' to showman's plan

8:00am Friday 11th January 2008

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MORE than 100 worried residents filled Thruxton village hall on Monday to give a resounding no' to a plan for travelling showman's quarters on Thruxton Down campsite.

The plan proposes to change the use of the land from agricultural to residential providing living areas for mobile homes, caravans and sheds.

There would also be a storage and maintenance area, access road, parking and turning space as well as the installation of two septic tanks.

But councillors and residents were worried it could be the thin end of the wedge.

"I'm concerned this development, in one way, shape or form, will set a precedent," Cllr Debi Foynes told the extraordinary parish council meeting.

But applicant Lorna Connors insisted the site would only be used by her family. She was submitting the application, she said, in the hope of getting land they could call home.

"It's not our intention to let all and sundry onto that land," said Mrs Connors, who is currently living with her husband and two children on a friend's yard in Shedfield.

"I'm doing it to get a piece of land we can finally call our own.

"I'm trying to secure my children's future so they will have a yard when they themselves get married."

She was adamant residents had nothing to fear.

"We are decent people.

"It's not a case of having to lock everything up for safety," she said.

Residents put forward other sites, including Walworth Industrial Estate, for storage of the fairground equipment.

But Mrs Connors replied: "Travelling showmen have always kept their business with them."

After hearing residents opposition to the plan the majority of the parish council voted to reject the application.

"If maintenance of this type is going to be carried out on fairground equipment it will be infinitely better to locate a travelling showman's quarters where appropriate facilities already exist," said Cllr Ray Bradbury.

Cllr Ron Pennells however supported the plan.

"If Test Valley put some restrictions on it I can see no objections myself," he said.

Chairman Charles Milner-Williams said they must think of the parish when voting.

"We, as a parish council, must be very careful not to attract a reputation for Nimby-ism," he said.

"We must consider what is good for the parish."

The application will now be heard by Test Valley Borough Council's northern area planning committee.

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