A COUNCILLOR says he is “gobsmacked” that a development built in the Green Belt without planning permission is likely to get retrospective consent.

Councillor Paul Cromie (Ind, Queensbury) said he feared the Bradford Area Planning Panel would be sending out a harmful message if they allowed the existing traveller and gypsy site to remain on land at Low Lane, Queensbury.

The application, by site occupant Samantha Freeman, asks for retrospective permission for the use of the land as a gypsy and caravan site, which began last year. The secure compound houses a static caravan and a touring caravan along with sheds, a parking area and a garden play area.

The plan has so far attracted 210 objections and 14 letters of support.

Cllr Cromie said he thought some of the objectors might have a “fear of the unknown” when it came to travellers or gypsies but this was not his motivation, saying he himself had been taken to court and fined by Bradford Council in the 1980s for letting a traveller family stay on land he owned.

He said he was more concerned about the fact the Low Lane site was in the Green Belt and the development had been built before planning permission was applied for.

He said: “I really am surprised that we have recommended approval.”

Planning policy says traveller sites should be refused in the Green Belt unless there are “very special circumstances”.

But Council officers have said there is currently a shortage of traveller sites across the district and have recommended that this site gets temporary consent until more are created - a process that could take until 2021.

Their report, which will go before the planning panel, says the development “will help improve opportunity and social outcomes for the family” living there.

It says: “The applicant is registered with the local doctor and the children attend a school in Clayton Heights which is around an eight minute drive away, the children have a good attendance record and the behaviour is good.”

Objectors have raised a variety of concerns, from the impact on local house prices to fears that there might be an increased risk of flytipping, drinking or anti-social behaviour.

Others were at pains to say they had no issue with traveller camps but objected to the development of Green Belt land or the retrospective application, with one saying: “Rules are rules for everyone.”

Many objected to the compound’s fencing, with one person calling it “Fort Knox”.

But supporters said the family were "friendly and decent people” and “kind and respectful”.

Some said the current occupants had tidied up the site substantially and had caused no problems for locals. One man said some objectors were motivated by “pure prejudice”.

The agent for the application, Angus Murdoch, said he was unavailable for comment when contacted by the Telegraph & Argus yesterday.