Landowner told to remove illegal traveller site

The owner of an illegal traveller site has been told to remove it within 18 months after a planning inspector upheld an enforcement notice.

Shane Bowers will need to remove caravans, generators, a septic tank and children's play equipment from the land near Royal Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Planning inspector Andy Harwood noted the development had caused "discernible and harmful change to the landscape character".

The matter had been in Wiltshire Council's planning system since 2022, when Mr Bowers first applied for permission to use land he had bought at Grittenham.

The plans for two sites mirroring each other, each with one static caravan, a pitch for a touring caravan, and an L-shaped stable building and day room, faced objection from three neighbouring parish councils.

The proposals, and a subsequent planning application, were declined and lost at appeal.

An enforcement notice was then issued by Wiltshire Council in 2024, and appealed against.

This week the planning inspector found in favour of the council.

Mr Bowers will be allowed to keep ponies, which are part of his trade and of his Gypsy heritage, the inspector added.

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