AN enforcement officer’s plan to rent or sell a beauty spot to a Gypsy family has been put on hold after attracting numerous objections from residents.

David Lovell said he remained optimistic that his planning application to change the use of his one-acre smallholding in Bullamoor, near Northallerton, to a residential site for travelers would be granted after Hambleton District Council’s planning committee deferred the decision.

Mr Lovell said although councillors had raised objections to the plan, he was determined to provide a place for a homeless family of gypsies after being appalled by mass evictions from Dale Farm travellers' site, in Essex, in October last year.

He said since launching the application he had faced comments from objectors claiming crime and dumped rubbish would increase in the area and that property values would fall.

The grandfather said: “Traveller families are all being tarred with the same brush and discriminated against.”

The council’s officers had recommended the proposal be granted as it would provide a sustainable private Gypsy site, met planning policies and would address the need for nine travellers’ pitches in the district over the next five years.

Officers said although there is “a strong presumption” against new residential developments in the open countryside, council policies allowed the establishment of gypsy sites when a range of criteria had all been met.

Allertonshire Civic Society, Osmotherley Parish and Northallerton Town councils have also objected to the plan, saying it is an inappropriate development in a rural location and have questioned whether the site would remain used by a single family.

Neighbours battling to stop the change of use have cited concerns over refuse disposal, road safety, visual impact and the impact on property prices.

Northallerton councillor John Coulson said he believed the council should create a single site to provide the nine required pitches for travellers.

He said: “I have nothing against gypsies, but I don’t think this is the right site as it is a very narrow strip and it is a very sensitive and beautiful area.”