A local woman’s application to live in a mobile home on her alpaca farm in Chapmanslade has been turned down by a Government Planning Inspector – to the delight of local residents and the parish council.
Following a hearing on 15th March, the inspector announced his decision on 6th April, turning down an appeal by Ms Sharon Snook.
The appeal was against Wiltshire Council’s refusal to grant planning permission for the siting of a mobile home for residential purposes at Sienna’s Valley in Huntenhull Lane, Chapmanslade and against enforcement notices issued by Wiltshire Council demanding removal of the caravan and accompanying paraphernalia, and restoring the land to its original state.
Ms Snook had argued that the mobile home was necessary as she was farming a herd of alpacas which she claimed needed 24/7 attention. Local residents, supported by Chapmanslade Parish Council, disputed this and were concerned about the detrimental effect the mobile home was having on a special landscape area in the village. They were also concerned that the original planning application had been made retrospectively.
In welcoming the planning inspector’s decision, Phil Jefferson, chairman of Chapmanslade Parish Council declared it was a victory for democracy. He said, “We are glad that the inspector noted that there was considerable opposition from local residents, ‘who provided a lot of cogent and relevant evidence to support the refusal’. It would have been totally wrong to have allowed this development to go ahead.
“It has been a long battle, as it is almost two years since the mobile home arrived on site and the community is delighted that matters are now drawing to a close. As a parish, we do, of course, support the farming community and the employment it brings to the village but this was the wrong way of going about things and justice has not only been done but has been seen to have been done.”
Ms Snook now has 12 months to remove the building and restore the land to its original state.
