GIPSIES who illegally moved on to a site near Shipston almost five years ago may finally get permanent planning permission.

An application for the use of the land for 16 stationary caravans at the Crossroads Caravan Park, with utility rooms and washing facilities as well as the retention of existing access and boundaries, has been submitted to Stratford District Council.

About 100 Romany gipsies caused uproar when they moved on to the two-andhalf acre site off the Fosseway at Darlingscott crossroads over the Bank Holiday weekend in March 2008.

They cut down hedges, put up fences, brought in diggers to lay hardcore and installed water and electricity supplies, all without planning permission.

Stratford District Council refused to grant planning permission, but temporary permission was won on appeal for a four-year period at a public inquiry in December 2008.

Discussing the application at the recent Shipston Town Council planning meeting, councillors were largely in favour of supporting the plans and put forward no representation with comments on drainage and the treatment centre.

Town councillor Philip Vial said: “There’s a significant minority of people in Shipston who don’t like having gipsies there for whatever reason.

“I think we do need to provide provision for these people.

So far they have run a pretty good site.”

Coun Adrian Jelf said: “I ordinarily would support them. When I was at school I had a lot of travellers I was friends with. I wouldn’t want to object to it. They haven’t caused any trouble in the last few years that I’m aware of. I think we should just leave them be. You can’t see it from the road.”

But Coun Brian Healey raised concerns about the drainage.

“They are trying to build a soakaway in high clay soil.

It’s got nowhere to soak away to. This used to be a field so it will take longer than it does at the moment to get across the field and into a drain.”

The application is now being considered by Stratford District Council and is expected to be discussed in the new year. For details, visit stratford.gov.uk