Bolsover councillor insists Pleasley residents are not opposed to travelling showpeople after planning dispute

The council’s planning committee originally gave the go-ahead last July for four residential mobile home plots for travelling showpeople on countryside land at Station Yard, off Chesterfield Road in Pleasley.

But applicants Mr Marshall and Mr Allen submitted a varied planning application to instead introduce seven caravans as permanent residential homes with gardens and access which the committee approved on February 18 after hearing agent Matt Williams say the applicants had altered plans because they do not want to place travelling showpeople where they are not welcome.

However, Coun Tom Kirkham (Lab) insists residents’ formal objections have only ever been based on the scale of the site, its impact on the environment, highways safety, access and an increase in traffic, as well as drainage and flooding worries.

Coun Kirkham, who was unable to attend the planning meeting, said afterwards: “The residents are not opposed to travelling showpeople.

"They are opposed to the over-development of the area and the access on the road.

“They are worried about their peace being disrupted because it is quiet where they live.

"They would be happier if the application was for houses because you have permanent residents.

“Their big fear is that there will be people coming in and out.

"Previously the site was not well-managed and not well-looked after.”

Formal objections from residents did not include any specific opposition to travelling showpeople but were based on the impact on the environment, highways safety and parking, as well as a feared increase in traffic on a narrow, unadopted and deteriorating road at nearby Midland Cottages with no pavements.

However, Mr Williams had told the planning meeting that travelling showpeople are not welcome in this community which he argues has been proven by the scale of objections and a strong gathering at a previous committee meeting.

The district council also stated it was advised the community has not reacted positively to travelling showpeople occupying the site so the latest application involved a change to permanent residential accommodation by ‘any persons’ because the applicants have formally stated they do not want to place travelling showpeople in this environment.

Applicant Mr Marshall also attempted to present what he referred to as ‘photographic evidence’ relating to his claims of an erected sign concerning the nature of certain upsetting opposition to the scheme.

He claimed this ‘photographic evidence’ was withheld from the planning committee but council development manager Chris Whitmore explained this information had to be removed due to sensitive legal considerations.

Contractors also reported to the council that on numerous occasions on site they were approached by residents asking who they were and what they were doing and that several residents made comments that they were opposed to the proposed use of the site and that the contractors should not be there.

But Coun Kirkham said it is important residents can state they do not have a problem with travelling showpeople having lived alongside them for a number of years previously and they are still in touch with one family who last lived on the plot and see them as friends.

Residents had previously opposed the original approved plans for four residential mobile home plots for travelling showpeople in July, 2025, based only on fears that the site may expand with increased traffic, pose a threat to the environment and create conflict over the use of a privately owned access road with residents’ homes situated between the site and a main road.

It was acknowledged at that time that the 0.42 hectare site was already an established vacant travelling showpeople’s yard, accessed by an unadopted driveway, which is in private ownership and serves homes off Chesterfield Road known as Midland Cottages.

The site previously had planning permission to store, maintain and repair travelling showpeople’s equipment for fairs, circuses or shows.

The council also stated that the applicants have an ‘unfettered legal right’ over the privately owned access road serving Midland Cottages and that any dispute between residents, owners and the applicants regarding site access rights, or any works to the private road to facilitate the development, are a private legal matter and not within the remit of the planning authority.

But Bolsover Council received more than 40 submissions from residents, concerning the original application, who feared that the site could expand beyond four caravans and those with concerns argued that Pleasley already has an ‘over-adequate’ protected caravan site at Common Lane.

Pleasley Council also objected to the first application because it doubted the development would be limited to just four mobile homes and it felt the area’s green space should be protected.

Coun Kirkham also objected to the first application with concerns about contamination after the land was previously granted permission for storage, maintenance and repair of travelling showpeople’s plant and equipment and he also raised concerns around access to the site along an unadopted road.

Coun Kirkham, who requested environmental checks and an agreement for managing the site, said there was a meeting with travelling showpeople because residents were concerned they would not know those planning to move to the site and they wanted reassurances and it was agreed there would be a point of contact.

He also called in the latest application for the planning committee to determine with concerns about access and that the new plans involved an increase in the number of plots and vehicle standing areas with a greater possible strain on the area.

Eight new ‘resident representations’ were also considered for the latest application which again only included concerns about the scheme’s impact on the environment, highways safety and parking, as well as an increase in traffic on an unadopted, narrow and deteriorating road with no pavements.

But Derbyshire Council’s highways authority stated there are no justifiable grounds on which to raise a highways objection and a district council report confirmed the application raised no concerns regarding the environment, residential amenity, biodiversity, land contamination, highway safety, flooding and drainage.

However, Coun Kirkham claims seven caravan plots will mean potentially 14 extra vehicles moving through the narrow, deteriorating, unadopted road near Midland Cottages with an over intensification of the site.

Following concerns that the end of nearby Chesterfield Road below the site floods regularly and the area poses foul system drainage worries, Coun Kirkham also claims there is no evidence of drains at the site for the scheme and that workmen had to be stopped digging a trench leading to one resident’s garden.

Coun Kirkham said he believes there should be more housing but he argued there have not been any proper assessments for the area and it is the residents who know their own neighbourhood best.

He said: “People live on this street and know where the traffic goes and they know what happens when it floods and others never do proper assessments which makes residents angry.”

Coun Kirkham also said it is the uncertainties that create anxiety for residents and that it would be preferred that anyone coming to this neighbourhood would be doing so to put down permanent roots and become a part of the community.

Agent Mr Williams, representing the applicants, said: “The senior planning officer’s report and recommendation to the planning committee provided a comprehensive and impartial assessment of the proposal against relevant planning policies and responded to all the concerns raised by objectors.

“This report confirmed that the proposal would deliver benefits without any adverse impacts, and the officer’s recommendation was endorsed by the planning committee’s unanimous resolution to grant planning permission.

“The local community claim that they are not against travelling showpeople although it is telling that there were ’56’ objections from local residents against the planning application to provide accommodation for travelling showpeople last year yet only eight objections from local residents to this planning application to provide accommodation for non-travellers.

“The latest application also provided evidence of the hostility faced by contractors visiting the site after permission was granted for the travelling showpeople accommodation last year.”

Mr Williams previously suggested the committee may wish to consider a condition with its planning approval to ensure ‘harmonious’ living conditions and even though the unadopted road is owned by residents the applicants have also offered to contribute to any improvement work.

The planning committee approved the latest varied planning application for seven permanent residential caravans subject to a number of conditions including that there will be no more than seven caravans and that they shall be occupied as a person’s sole, or main place of residence and they shall not be occupied for holiday let purposes.

Conditions also stipulated a foul drainage and surface water disposal scheme must be submitted with a biodiversity enhancement plan with both to be approved by the planning authority.