Three Rivers District Council has recommended approval of an application to change the use of green belt land for four Gypsy pitches. The applicant, James Smith, a Romani Gypsy whose family works as arborists, submitted the application last year. He cited the lack of designated sites for travellers in the district.
According to an officials' report, factors including the absence of alternative sites and the applicant's status outweigh the development's non-compliance with protected land policies. The final decision will be made at a planning committee meeting on May 28.