Plans have been submitted to develop two new travellers' pitches and a communal day room on East Mead Lane in Walton, a small village near Street in Somerset. The site, currently home to five stables and an agricultural barn under construction, lies just west of the village allotments and close to a nearby housing and commercial development.
Mark Goddard has put forward the proposal, which includes providing access from East Mead Lane, space for two mobile homes, two touring caravans, and a communal day room. The site will be carefully screened by a mix of new and mature hedgerows to ensure privacy and blend with the surrounding countryside.
Representing the applicant, Stokes Morgan Planning Ltd highlighted that the site is within walking distance of Walton’s amenities and bus stops offering regular connections to Street and beyond. The entrance will be wide enough to accommodate vehicles towing caravans, with ample parking and manoeuvring space.
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The applicants are a family of ethnic gypsy and travellers seeking a secure, permanent pitch. The proposal aims to address the ongoing shortage of gypsy and traveller sites in the Mendip area, providing suitable accommodation in a location free from flood risk and without other obstacles to approval.
Given the site lies within the River Brue catchment, specific environmental measures will be implemented to protect the Somerset Levels and Moors. Two package treatment plants will be installed on-site to treat sewage and significantly reduce phosphate discharge into local waterways.
Somerset Council is expected to decide on the application within the next six months, with a ruling anticipated by early autumn.