Appeal expected after plans rejected

About 30 residents from Keyingham travelled to a meeting at County Hall to hear an application for retrospective planning permission refused for camp they feared could become “another Dale Farm”.

The family of Irish travellers, who set up camp on the outskirts of the village last September, after buying the land, did not attend. They now have six months in which to appeal.

Arthur Hodgson, the chairman of Keyingham Parish Council and a county councillor, said the travellers had already threatened to appeal.

He added: “We’re very pleased that the planning committee have taken note of the public’s concern and the concern of the parish council and look forward to a successful resolution.

“Of course there’s an opportunity for them to appeal and they said they would - but we think we have got more than a good case.

“It is causing great concern, especially to the nearest neighbour.”

Mr Hodgson said the family, who returned to the site last week, appeared to have been digging a latrine on the land.

As well as having four caravans, they are also seeking permission to build a toilet block and sewage treatment plant.

The travellers, including brothers Anthony, James and Hughie Doherty, who work as landscape gardeners and buy and sell horses, say they want to establish a base in the East Riding, with a fourth pitch for father Anthony Doherty senior and his two daughters.

They argued that they needed a site from which to travel, care for their horses, and school their children.

But they were turned down on the grounds that the site was outside the village development limit and that they had not demonstrated a need to be there.