A group of gypsies who bought a field in Buckinghamshire have been given planning permission to stay on the land. The celebrating families, who have 21 children between them, fought a three-year battle with the local authorities to be allowed to live on the land at Weston Turville.
The villagers had been trying to get rid of the former illegal encampment at Marrow Way in Weston Turville.
They wanted the gypsies evicted and fought against a permanent site, saying it would look out of character in the rural area.
'Children more important'
The gypsies appealed to a planning inspector after their application to live on the site was repeatedly turned down by Aylesbury Vale District Council.
The inspector has given planning permission for a seven plots on the site.
He said that although the site had seriously affected an area of outstanding natural beauty, he considered the settlement of the families and the education of the children was more important.
The inspector said children living on the site all attended local schools.
The parents were supportive and attended school meetings.
He also took into account of the fact that Buckinghamshire County Council and Aylesbury Vale District Council had failed to provide new sites for travellers and therefore demand exceeded capacity.
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