Caravan storage at Beech Hill Farm allowed on appeal

Last year, to the dismay of hundreds of local people who'd signed a petition, the planning committee refused the application to allow land at Beech Hill Farm, Westerleigh to continue to be used for storing caravans. The applicant appealed and this week it was announced that the appeal had been allowed and the use can continue.

To read the decision, go to the planning applications search page and search for the reference number PK15/1339/F. Select the documents tab and click on the image of a document next to "APPEAL DECISION AND COSTS".

Beech Hill Farm refused, Mafeking Hall approved

Yesterday the planning committee turned down the retrospective application for the caravan storage at Beech Hill Farm, Westerleigh. The applicant had asked for the application to be deferred to enable them to bring forward a report on the contamination of the site, which formed part of their Very Special Circumstances argument. However the majority of committee members decided to go with the officer recommendation.

The majority of members also supported the officer recommendation to give the go ahead for the change of use for the pre-school at Mafeking Hall, Serridge Lane. Members did stipulate that they should only be given one month to comply with the conditions related to the highways impacts rather than three as officers had suggested.

Planning committee to consider Beech Hill Farm and Mafeking Hall next week

Next Thursday 10th September the Development Control (East) Planning Committee will be considering applications for Beech Hill Farm and Mafeking Hall in Westerleigh ward.

You can see the agenda online, including links to the officer's reports. Beech Hill Farm is recommended for refusal and Mafeking Hall is recommended for approval with conditions.The meeting starts at 3pm in Kingswood Civic Centre.

Planning committee to consider caravan storage site

The application to continue caravan storage at Beech Hill Farm, which we reported on in April, is to be considered by the planning committee later this summer. Officers have recommended refusal on Green Belt grounds. A site visit is expected to take place on Friday 28th August.

Application for caravan storage at Beech Hill

In February we reported that caravan owners had protested against the council's planning enforcement team taking action to stop caravans being stored at Beech Hill, Westerleigh. The owners of the site have now made an application for a change of use of the land to caravan storage, reference number PK15/1339/F , which can be found on the South Glos website. Local people have until Thursday 7th May to comment.

Caravan owners protest against Beech Hill storage closure

A group of caravan owners attended Wednesday's South Glos Council meeting to protest against the council's actions that will leave them having to find an alternative home for their caravans.

Caravans have been stored at the site, between Yate and Westerleigh, for over 10 years but planning permission for the use was refused twice and an enforcement notice has been in place since 2005. Last year the council gave the owner until the beginning of April this year to get the caravans removed from the site. Owners say there are no alternatives and presented a petition on Wednesday asking for the storage to be allowed to stay open.