Planning to stay

A family of Romany Gypsies is facing a public inquiry in the latest stage of an 18-year planning battle to keep their home.

Peter Barney, of Three Legged Cross in Dorset, is appealing against East Dorset District council’s ruling that his three bedroom mobile home breaches planning rules.

A planning inspector will hear arguments for and against on Tuesday, January 11. Mr Barney, 49, said: “We want to stop here for life.

“I’m a pure bred Gypsy, but it’s come to the point where I want to get off the road. There’s no work for us now.

“We’ve had no problems with anybody and have good neighbours who will come to stick up for us. I’ve been here nearly 10 years and don’t see the problem – it’s only the size of a bungalow.”

With no permanent travellers’ site pitches available in Dorset they would be forced to keep on the move again, he added.

The council has issued enforcement notices over changing the use of land so it can house a caravan and also refused retrospective planning permission for a mobile home, touring caravan and another building.

Maggie Smith-Bendell, from Romany Gypsy Advisory Group, said: “The Barneys have been there a long time, the children have settled down in school.

“There is absolutely nowhere for families like this to go. They are a very private family.

“For any family living out on the roadside, there is no access to healthcare or education. It will affect them in a dreadful way and destroy the children’s lives.”