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The voice of hillam village, North Yorkshire. Delivered free to all residents. Volume 22, Issue 2. Feb 2010 — mar 2010 orries among Hillam residents about the travellers’ settlement near Hillam Feeds appeared well founded with the news that gypsies on a similar green belt site near Towton had won permission to stay.
successfully appealed to the Independent Planning Inspectorate and can stay until Jan 31st, 2014. Travellers were represented by Philip Brown Associates of Rugby.
North Yorkshire operates gypsy sites at Burn and Carlton, but they are full. There is a danger of more successful gipsy appeals unless SDC and North Yorkshire set up more facilities. Selby is urgently The inspector did not find sufficient looking for somewhere to locate another gypsy site. grounds to issue indefinite permission. The appeal was granted because Selby Wherever it is, there will be local Despite an enforcement notice at ‘The District Council has failed to fully opposition, the planning process will be Gallops’, adjoining Towton battlefield and implement national guidelines to provide lengthy and the costs could be £100,000 rejection by Selby of a subsequent e n o u g h s i t e s f o r t r a v e l l e r s . per pitch. planning application, travellers have
could still be here in 2014 elby is not the only local council, which has been unable to set up traveller sites and the situation has not been helped by central government, which has discriminated in favour of travellers.
...anybody who seeks to break the law and ignore planning rules can expect the council to come down hard on them.
A government circular from the office of the deputy prime minister (John Prescott) about gipsy sites is unclear whether they are to be set up by County or District Councils. Gipsies are now asserting their rights and with professional help are Back at Hillam, on Nov 30th a 28-day stop challenging local authorities. notice was issued to prevent Mr Cannon Council leader Mark Crane had earlier bringing any more caravans onto the field said of developments at Towton, he owns on the road between Hillam and “Anybody who seeks to break the law and Burton Salmon. ignore planning rules can expect the council to come down hard on them. We If he did not appeal or submit a planning believe that planning rules should be application within 28 days, an adhered to by everybody.” enforcement notice would come into force and he would have to leave the site within After the Towton ruling it will be no three months and restore it to its former surprise if inspectors follow precedent state in six months. and grant immunity from planning rules to other ‘travellers’ in the green belt, However in the more likely event of an including those at Hillam. Mr Cannon – appeal, an inspector appointed by the see adjoining story – is clearly very well Secretary of State would adjudicate. informed and advised.
Travellers have rights too Mr Cannon of ‘Ten Acres,’ who has received a notice from Selby Council to remove caravans from his field near Hillam Feeds, has telephoned Hillam News to insist his water mains connection is legal. He says he has papers to prove it. He says he has paid Selby Band ‘A’ Council Tax and they have given him a receipt. He admitted having received the Selby Council notice, but said that would have to be decided by Planning. ‘I own the field. It’ll take them six years to get me off. If necessary, I’ll take the case to the European Court. We travellers have rights,’ said Mr Cannon. Mr Cannon disagreed that he also had a duty to comply with the law. Note: The water connection referred to in our last issue was on Fairfield Lane, the road to Bluebell Wood and has nothing to do with Mr Cannon.
Editor for this issue - Rob Preston HILLAM NEWS is financed solely by advertising revenue and the generosity of contributors, photocopiers and distributors. The Editor is solely responsible for the paper’s contents. If you have a view you would like published, or if you wish to advertise, phone David Atkinson on 684577 or email at dsa99uk@yahoo.co.uk.