Caravanners campaign to prevent closure of ‘unlawful’ caravan storage facility
A caravan storage facility in South Gloucestershire is due to be closed next month amidst claims it is operating unlawfully.
The facility, at Beech Hill Farm in Yate, South Gloucestershire, has been allocated to storing caravans for the past 11 years. However, the local council has now stepped in to state it should never have been operating owing to the site being situated on greenbelt land intended for agricultural use, as well as the fact that planning permission has never been granted.
Those opposed against the council’s decision say it will cause up to as many as 70 caravans to be displaced into residential areas as new storage facilities are very difficult to find. Some caravans may even have to be sold as a result.
Protesters have also claimed that keeping their caravans on contaminated land is ideal, as the land cannot be used for very much else, whilst at the same time remaining an exceptionally safe place for caravan owners, as Deborah Martin, owner of Beech Hill Farm Storage claimed: “I think it is very unfair of South Gloucestershire council forcing the closure of this service. There have never been accidents, incidents, thefts or burglaries and some customers have stored their caravans here for many years.
“Without this service many of my customers would not have anywhere to store their caravans, and may have to sell them, missing out on their family breaks as a result.”
What do you think of the council decision? Should this land continue to be put to better use or simply handed over to the authorities to do as they please? Let us know in the comments section below.
