A nine-strong traveller family who faced being turfed out of their home in Gretna have offered to remove one of their static caravans in a bid to remain where they live.
George and Jenny Allan, a couple in their mid-70s, set up two static caravans/chalets on an unauthorised site near Raydale Park Stadium in 2019. They live in one, while their daughter Elizabeth and her six children stay in the other.
While they bought the land and two static caravans/chalets costing £60,000 each, the family did not have planning consent and the council hit the family with an enforcement order to leave.
However, it appears that a compromise may be reached as the Allan family have submitted a new planning application in a bid to remain on their land and finally put an end to the situation.
The matter is due to be discussed by councillors at the council’s planning committee on Wednesday.
A report due to be tabled at the meeting reads: “Planning permission is sought for the change of use of the land to form one gypsy/traveller pitch, involving the siting of one residential static caravan.
“The site is already in use as a gypsy/traveller pitch with two static caravans currently sited and occupied but it is proposed to remove one of these caravans and re-position the other more centrally within the site and, therefore, the application is partially retrospective.”
Planning case officer Lindsey Cameron has recommended that this new application is approved subject to conditions – including that the second caravan is removed within one month, and that the boundary fence height is increased to two metres.
Scottish Water and the council’s road officer had no issues with the application, however, four residents in Milburn Drive and two in Loanwath Road have lodged objections stating an “adverse impact on residential amenity” as a result of overlooking/loss of privacy, and the closeness of the caravan to their properties.
The council has two designated gypsy/traveller sites at Glenluce and Collin. However, there is currently no space – and Collin needs millions of pounds worth of investment to meet the Scottish Government’s minimum standards.
