A row has broken out between residents, a parish council, and borough council about the potential expansion of a travellers' site.

Dartford council's planning committee has been advised to approve the extension of an existing site on Darenth Hill's green belt when it meets on Thursday.

Released council papers reveal officers' assessment acknowledging the harm to the countryside, but say that "special circumstances" exist which should permit Michael Harris's proposal to site six more caravans, within three new gypsy pitches, at Cob Tree Farm.

Ten residents have sent letters of support to the council, but Darenth Parish Council "strongly disputes" the officers' argument and in an letter to Dartford council expressed its firm opposition to the plans.

A spokesman said: "The parish council considers the proposed expansion represents a totally inappropriate development within the green belt with no very special circumstances evidenced to outweigh that consideration."

The site of the proposed development is currently used as a horse paddock and lies adjacent to Lane End Garage in Darenth's village centre.

Mr Harris submitted an application last year requesting three new pitches and a "day room" be built at the site to accommodate his three sons, two of whom are adults and one a child, and their families.

Council officers say there is a need for additional pitches in the borough because of a major shortage in the local authority's five-year of supply of gypsy and traveller sites.

In addition, special circumstances also exist due to ongoing health concerns for one of the sons in Mr Harris's family and the fact a grandchild is due to be born in the near future living on the site, officers say.

However, objectors, including two locals and the parish council, made reference to an "unnecessary intrusion" into the green belt and also said personal needs should not be a deciding factor.

Ward councillor Ian Armitt (Con), deputy chairman of the planning committee, has previously taken issue with Darenth having to "carry the weight" of the borough's deficit in gypsy sites.

But several Darenth residents have sent letters of support to the local planning authority, saying the applicants are "good" neighbours.

They have also said Mr Harris and his family have integrated themselves well into the community and continue to keep the existing site clean and tidy.

Several other statutory bodies, including Kent County Council's Highways, KCC ecology and environmental health have raised no objections.

Concluding, a council officer says in the report: "I am of the view that substantial weight should be attached to the lack of a five-year supply of gypsy sites.

"Positive weight is also given to the fact this is an extension to an existing gypsy site, to the needs of the children, to the medical needs of one of the future occupants of the site and the fact that the land is previously development."

A decision will be made at Dartford Civic Centre next Thursday from 7pm.

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