A Gypsy and Traveller family has launched a fight to overturn the decision to refuse permission for their homes.

A hearing has been called by the planning inspectorate to consider the appeal against Huntingdonshire District Council’s decision for four new Gypsy and Traveller pitches in Somersham.

The planning application for the pitches was submitted by Frederick Adams back in 2018.

He asked for permission to create four new Gypsy and Traveller pitches with day rooms, a gym room, and a store on land off Chatteris Road in Somersham.

Permission had previously been granted for four pitches on the site, after an appeal for six pitches had been dismissed.

The plans said the four new homes would provide a permanent base for extended family members of those already living at the site.

The planning documents said: “The principle of this being a suitable location for a Gypsy site has already been established through the grant of two separate planning permissions, one for two pitches granted on appeal, and a second one for an additional two pitches, extending the site.”

The plans recognised an appeal had been lost to add additional pitches to the site due to concerns about the potential impact it could have on the character and appearance of the area.

However, the plans said there had been a “significant planting scheme” carried out and therefore argued the new pitches would now have a “minimal impact” on the appearance of the area.

The district council refused the planning application in August last year, stating the character and appearance of the wider landscape would be “significantly harmed” by the changes.

The planning officers also said there had been “insufficient information” provided to establish that the people living in the new homes had Gypsy and Traveller status in planning terms.

The officer’s report recognised the district council did not have a five-year supply of Gypsy and Traveller sites and accepted this should carry considerable weight in the decision making process.

The report also acknowledged the people planning to live there had health conditions which required them to have a stable base.

However, they said these points did not outweigh the “significant level of harm” that planning officers said would be caused by the development.

Mr Adams has now launched an appeal against this decision and a hearing to consider the application is due to be held on May 8.

A planning inspector will consider information from both Mr Adams and the district council before making a decision on whether the proposals can go ahead.