PLANNING chiefs have “reluctantly” given permission for two temporary traveller sites in Hambledon, after other applications had gone to appeal.

A retrospective application to site the pitches including a mobile home, touring caravan and a dayroom, on Pony Paddock, Hipley, until 2024 went before Winchester City Council’s planning committee following objections from residents and the parish council.

Messrs Connor and Wall had submitted the proposal to the authority in the light of an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate which gave four other plots temporary permission until 2024.

The plan had drawn criticism with nine households objecting claiming that the site is over developed, impact on the countryside and loss of tranquillity as some of the reasons the plots should be refused.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Paula Langford-Smith, of Denmead Parish Council, said: “This site has been the subject of several appeals at the Planning Inspectorate. Recently the inspector noted that the previous inspector’s refusal to grant permission for travellers to settle on this site but said ‘things have changed’.

“The area is now dominated by the presence of the caravans with large amounts of panel fencing, much of the land has hard surfacing creating harsh urban appearance which jars with the soft immediate surroundings.”

Cllr Langford-Smith said that the inspector says it has a “significant adverse effect on the character and appearance of the surrounding area”.

She added that planning policy seeks to avoid sites from being over concentrated in one location, adding: “Winchester’s allocation for five years is for 19 sites and we have 11 in this situation.”

Despite concerns surrounding the increasing number of plots on the site, committee members said that they ‘felt their hands were tied’.

Cllr Michael Read said: “I think what is important is that with the conditions and I have listened to both sides and that it is important that if we are going to tie this up with the same temporary finishing dates that all the conditions are in fact the same. That way it will be easier to enforce hopefully the evacuation of the site.

“I feel we are literally over a barrel and we have got to try and look to 2024. Reluctantly and I do mean reluctantly I would go along with this temporary permission.”

And Cllr Angela Clear added: “I am very reluctant but if we refuse it will go to appeal and we will be back to where we are now.”