May 26 2005
By Rebecca Haylings
GYPSIES who bought a tranquil beauty spot at Pangbourne Hill and turned it into a permanent caravan site have been told they must leave.
Villagers were rejoicing yesterday (Wednesday) after Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott backed his planning inspector's decision to reject the travellers' bid to stay.
There was fury last May when the travellers secretly bought the field and laid enough concrete hard standing to take 16 caravans without applying for planning permission.
West Berkshire Council's eastern area planning committee refused a retrospective application in August when villagers protested the site was in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and breached local plans. More...
By Rebecca Haylings
GYPSIES who bought a tranquil beauty spot at Pangbourne Hill and turned it into a permanent caravan site have been told they must leave.
Villagers were rejoicing yesterday (Wednesday) after Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott backed his planning inspector's decision to reject the travellers' bid to stay.
There was fury last May when the travellers secretly bought the field and laid enough concrete hard standing to take 16 caravans without applying for planning permission.
West Berkshire Council's eastern area planning committee refused a retrospective application in August when villagers protested the site was in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and breached local plans. More...
