A GYSPY and his daughter are not going to be allowed to keep their caravans on a site in Morcombelake.

Government planning inspector Simon Hand sided with West Dorset District Council which refused permission for Andy Cooper and his daughter to live on the site in Muddyford Lane off the A35.

The council issued an enforcement notice in 2012 alleging a mixed agricultural use and the stationing of a residential caravan, huts, trailers and vehicles.

Mr Hand said the two main considerations were whether Mr Cooper was a gypsy for the purposes of Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (PPfTS) and the impact of the caravan site on the character or appearance of the Dorset AONB.

Mr Hand agreed Mr Cooper was undoubtedly a gypsy but said change to government policy for gypsy sites, revised in August 2015 to amend the definition of gypsies to include those who wish to cease travelling 'temporarily', was relevant.

Mr Hand said: "The change is the introduction of the word 'temporarily'."

He said the policy had also been amended to strengthen the protection of the countryside by saying local authorities should 'very strictly' limit new traveller site development in open countryside.

Mr Hand said: "There was some considerable discussion at the hearing as to the appellant’s lifestyle. There is no doubt that he is a gypsy, in that he comes from a well established gypsy family and has until recently been carrying out a nomadic lifestyle. It seems he travels regularly to horse fairs around the country and also to various shows, where he is often employed on ground maintenance.

"His travelling was greatly reduced in the last few years when his mother became ill and now she has passed away he is resuming his previous lifestyle "However, it is clear that as time passes Mr Cooper sees that continuous travelling will become impracticable, for health reasons if for no other. His requirement is therefore for a site he can use as a permanent base."

But Mr Hand argued that because the landscape is particularly striking and is given extra protection by its status as an AONB, the harm in granting permission for a gypsy site would be considerable.

He said: "Housing in the countryside, whether for bricks and mortar or caravans is strictly controlled because of the harm that may be caused and this is even more so for AONBs. In my view the continued use of the land as a permanent residential site for two caravans would be seriously detrimental to the landscape character of the area.

"For Mr Cooper it would seem to be more convenient rather than essential to find somewhere to stay, and certainly there does not seem to be a pressing need to stay at this particular location in the AONB."

In my view the continued occupation of the site would be harmful regardless of how tidy or low key the appellant kept it."