Travellers' planning bid refused

Travellers seeking planning permission for an illegal site have had their application refused.

The group wanted retrospective approval for a 22-caravan site on greenfield land off Fairfield Road in Singleton, Lancashire, which they now occupy.

Local residents were strongly opposed to the idea as the travellers set up camp without planning permission.

Fylde Borough Council rejected the application for a second time at a planning meeting on Wednesday.

In a council report, officers described the development as being contrary to the local plan and stated it would have a detrimental effect on the area.

The report stated: "The needs of the travelling families should be balanced by the harm caused."

Speaking after the meeting, Charlene Collins, from the travelling community, said: "At the end of the day, when it comes down to us lot, we get the blame for everything.

"We don't have a future, they'll have to imprison us or something because there's nowhere else to go."

A local resident, who wanted to remain anonymous, said he was pleased at the outcome of the planning meeting.

"I've lived here all my life and all the local residents are pleased with what's come out of the planning meeting this morning," he said.

"At the end of the day, what is going on down there is wrong and against the law.

"Anyone else would have to put in planning permission, it is wrong and it's against the law, it's a planning issue."

The site residents now have 28 days to appeal against the decision.