Row over workers' caravans at Shripney Lane in North Bersted taken to government

The homeowners of Shripney Lane told a planning inspector the development at Manor Farm opposite their properties was illegal.

One of them, Peter Allsopp, who has lived in the road since November 1976, stated at a public inquiry the use of the land by Langmead Farms for 41 old holiday caravans to accommodate workers should not be allowed.

"The presence of this site is an undesirable development, which is prejudiced to the rural character of the area.

"The development is not small in scale and consists of some 41 caravans and a clubroom," he said in his submission to the inquiry chaired by Victor Ammoun.

"The close proximity of the site to ten dwelling houses, approximately 30 metres distance from the nearest caravans, is not acceptable.

"Complaints have been made to Langmead Farms Ltd of loud music and noisy behaviour, both during the daytime and late evening and night-time hours.

"The present site does constitute a breach of planning controls in that by its nature of size and construction with connections to mains services it is of a permanent nature and not exempt from planning requirements."

Mr Allsopp claimed more than 200 workers lived in the caravans. Most were bused to about seven other farms rather than working on Manor Farm.

Shripney Lane and the adjoining North Bersted Street were unsuited to the type, size and number of farm vehicles travelling to and from the site as well as the workers' vehicles.

These were among the ten reasons he gave for the development to be rejected.

But he also listed five conditions to limit the impact of the caravans' presence if they were allowed by Mr Ammoun.

Residents first noticed caravans around 1998 but they were removed each year until 2004 when they were kept at the farm all year.

The inquiry was held at Bognor Regis Town Hall last Wednesday and Thursday after Langmead Farms appealed against Arun District Council's refusal to allow the caravans last March.

Daniel Vick, Arun's team leader in development compliance, told the inquiry it was alleged Langmead Farms had broken planning rules by changing the use of land from farmland to a hardstanding for caravans.

It had also broken the rules by putting up a 1m-plus high bund next to Shripney Lane, installing engineering works for services to the caravans and using an adjacent barn for a lounge and recreation room for the caravans.

Juan Baeza, a council principal planning officer, said 22 of the caravans placed on the land in 2007 were the subject of the enforcement notice.

"In my opinion, this proposal is at odds and unrelated with the established character of its immediate locality. The continued presence of these caravans will continue to detrimentally alter the special character of the area," he stated.

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