By Hayley Robinson

Plans for a gipsy site at Bobbing have been refused.

Swale council’s planning committee dismissed the proposal for land opposite the Garden of England Crematorium, in Sheppey Way, to be used as a residential site for one family with two caravans (including one static), plus a single storey block providing a toilet, shower, kitchen and dinning room, when it met at Swale House last night (Thursday).

Planning officers had recommended permission be granted but it was refused on the grounds it would harm the character and appearance of the countryside and because the council is likely to address the requirement to provide gipsy/traveller sites in Swale in the near future without the need to develop the countryside gap.

Bobbing Parish Council - which opposed the plans, welcomed the decision.

Sue Crawford, parish clerk, said: "We feel it was the right decision for this application on this piece of land.

"The gallery was packed but there was a very subdued reaction from everyone when the application was refused.

"I think had it not had an amenity block in the plans it might have got permission but you put bricks on a piece of land and it changes everything. I suspect the applicant will appeal though."

But it doesn’t end there. Villagers now face the prospect of a second and larger site after Kent County Council’s Gipsy and Traveller Unit unveiled plans for a permanent gipsy/traveller site on land at the rear of the Bobbing Apple restaurant.

The 15-acre plot is one of some 30 sites earmarked in Swale as being suitable.

Residents are determined not to let the camp of 12 to 14 pitches get the go-ahead and plan to start a petition as the first step in their campaign.

Mrs Crawford said: "No planning application has been submitted yet and Swale Borough Council hasn’t announced when it’s going to start its consultation on the proposal so we’re in limbo at the moment.

"We will start a petition but we haven’t done so yet because there’s nothing to petition against at this moment in time. We need to wait until either a planning application is submitted or the consultation process starts."